2011 Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macan
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Tasting notes
(raised in French oak barrels, two-thirds of then new) Vivid ruby. Deep-pitched black currant, cherry cola and licorice scents are complemented by suggestions of vanilla, roasted coffee and pipe tobacco. Sweet, broad and seamless in texture, offering concentrated dark fruit and floral pastille flavors that tighten up slowly with aeration. The floral quality repeats strongly on the long, gently tannic finish, which leaves a smoky mineral note behind.
Critic scores
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
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.