93 Luis Gutierrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2011 Macan feels young, a little backward and still marked by the barrel-aging. It presents a nose that is somewhat closed, but with good depth, mixing black berry fruit with vanilla and other aromatic spices. There is good weight of fruit in the palate framed by abundant tannins and balancing acidity through a finish that is very long. It's a modern, well-made Rioja that should improve in bottle. I'd wait one or two years before pulling the cork, and for sure it will evolve for a good decade. 55,500 bottles.

I met with Pablo Alvarez (Vega Sicilia's CEO) and winemaker Javier Ausás to taste the latest releases from their joint venture with Benjamin de Rothschild in Rioja and talk about their wines and the vintages. For what they told me, 2010 and 2011 are both considered very good, with a big jump from the initial 2009. 2012 will be in line with 2010 and 2011 and the 2013 and 2014 are much more difficult, but they are used to the difficulties coming from Ribera del Duero; they finish harvesting earlier than most people in Rioja. However they are happy with how 2013 is evolving in barrel and consider 2014 more challenging. 2011 could be in continuity with 2010: in both vintages they harvested ten years before the others. In 2011, there was rain just after they finished harvesting, so getting the grapes ripe a little earlier is key to getting quality grapes.

The two labels are really a barrel selection of pure Tempranillo aged in barrique (70% new) for 16-17 months. The ones with more red fruit go to Macán Clásico and the riper, deeper, more black fruit ones make it into the top wine. The wines have a clear modern-Vega Sicilia profile, ripe Tempranillo, generously oaked, concentrated and clean; one day I'd like to taste then side by side, something I have not yet done. "