Day 359 - The Hunt for Vega Sicilia

On our third afternoon in Madrid we went wine shopping. We were interested in finding a wine or two to 'lay down.' A friend told us to keep an eye out for any wines from Vega Sicilia, one of Spain's most iconic estates. A google of 'where to buy wine in Madrid' lead us to Lavignia, a huge store with an enormous selection of wines from across the globe. The bottom floor space is dedicated to Spain (displayed by region) and the top floor, all other countries.

Jackpot. Vega Sicilia's two traditional wines, Unico and Valbuena, were both available to taste at Lavinia - a '99 Unico and a '04 Valbuena. The '99 was well out of our price range to buy so we tried a nip of the Valbuena 2004, a blend of Tempranillo, Merlot and Malbec grapes.

We liked it. Lots of juicy fruit. The tannins are smooth yet have plenty of grip. It had an open, airy mouthfeel. This seems like a subtle, refined wine that will age nicely. We bought a bottle and look forward to seeing what it tastes like on our 10 year wedding anniversary.