Bodega Benjamin de Rothschild and Vega Sicilia Macan Clasico, Rioja DOC

Description

Bodega Benjamin de Rothschild and Vega Sicilia (BR&VS) united in a joint venture in Rioja in 2004 with the first wine released in 2009. Macan Clasico is the “second wine” after the flagship wine, simply named “Macan”.

Vega Sicilia can trace its origins back to 1864 when was established by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who planted various grapes varieties from the Bordeaux wine region of France, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The estate has been owned since 1982 by the Álvarez family. 1982 was the year that Ribera del Duero was granted Denominación de Origen (DO) status and it is the Alvarez family who have turned Vega Sicilia into one of the world’s iconic wines. Baron Benjamin de Rothschild founded the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 1973. The Baron is the great-grandson of James de Rothschild who had purchased Chateau Lafite in 1868. Baron Edmond de Rothschild owns, or co-owns, many wine projects around the world includeing Chateau des Laurets (Pesseguin St Emilion), Flechas de Los Andes (Argentina), Rimapere (New Zealand) and Rupert and Rothschild (South Africa). There was an agreement to approach this project in a different manner. They wouldn’t follow the age old maturation scale of Reserva and Gran Reserva, and they opted for the use of Burgundian oak rather than American.

It took BR&VS seven years and seventy acquisitions of carefully selected vineyards and plots to establish the 92 hectare vineyard in Rioja Alta, Spain’s premier wine region. All of them are located in the foothills of Sierra Cantabria, which lies to the north of the river Ebro, spread among the San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos and Elvillar municipalities. They are small-sized plots in highland terraces, on poor and clay-calcareous soils. Tempranillo grapes are the predominant variety, and the only one used for the Macán and Macán Clásico production. The climate is mild, typically Atlantic and both Mediterranean and Continental influences.

Bodega Benjamin de Rothschild and Vega Sicilia Macan Clasico is produced from 100% Tempranillo, aged for 12 months in barrel and then a further 18 months in bottle prior to release.

The Vintage

2019 was a dry year. The lack of water during May, June, and July affected the vineyard, with temperatures slightly higher than average, even during winter and autumn. In fact, it can be considered the warmest year of the decade, with a heatwave at the end of June and start of July that, unusually, saw temperatures topping 40℃. The drought affected the entire ripening phase, with the berries only swelling very slightly. However, the 80mm that fell during the first fortnight of September helped alleviate the vines’ water needs, with the fruit quickly swelling. Ultimately, the weather was kind to the harvest, with the region experiencing mild temperatures, a limited diurnal temperature range, and no mists or rainfall that could have posed a risk to production.

Macán Clásico 2019 offers a concentrated, powerful expression while preserving the freshness and vibrancy of the terroir.