The 2014 Vega Sicilia Valbuena 5º (“5 Year Old”) is a Ribera del Duero red built around Tempranillo with a small portion of Merlot. Several critics singled out both its depth and its balance, and the top scores were emphatic: Vinous and two major outlets each landed at 96 points. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate called it “truly spectacular” (96 points), while James Suckling rated it 96 and wrote, “The power and freshness here is extraordinary…Superb.”

Winemaking details underscore the house’s precision. Wine Advocate reports the wine is “mostly Tempranillo with some 5% Merlot,” “fermented by plot,” drawn from “their 210 hectares of vineyards,” and then “matured in a combination of barriques and larger 20,000-liter oak vats.” Production was sizable—“184,684 bottles” plus “5,578 magnums”—and it “was bottled in June 2016” (Wine Advocate). Decanter adds an élevage sequence of “12 months in 70% French and 30% American barriques,” followed by a “pre-blend” and “16 months in large-format vats,” then a final blend before bottling, calling 2014 “an excellent vintage” (94 points).

In the glass, the 2014 reads as a dark-fruited, oak-shaped Valbuena with lift. Suckling highlights “black cherries and plums, dark chocolate and licorice,” with a “deeply fleshy” palate and “deeper tannin texture,” recommending best drinking “from 2024 onwards.” Vinous (96) emphasizes perfume and polish, citing “smoke-accented cherry,” “pipe tobacco and incense,” and a “seamless, focused and lively” finish. Jeb Dunnuck (94) finds it “more understated, elegant, nuanced,” with “beautiful overall balance” and 10–15 years of runway.

Other reviews reinforce the wine’s ripe, modern profile. Wine Spectator (93) notes “ripe fruit, toasty oak, lively acidity and well-integrated tannins,” while Wine Enthusiast (94) describes “cuddly berry aromas” and a “full and ripe” feel, suggesting near-term enjoyment through 2030.