Lot presentation

Rioja DOCa Macan Classico Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia S.A 2020

The wine

This Clasico cuvée is a single-varietal Tempranillo made by the book from Vega Sicilia and Benjamin de Rothschild. The viticulture here is traditional and thorough. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels (30%) and vats (70%). The wine was then matured for 15 months in French oak casks, before a further ageing in the bottle until its sale.
This cuvée carries the excellence of these two institutions. It is elegant, expressive, and complex. In the glass, this wine has a garnet red hue, and an aromatic bouquet marked by notes of red fruit, spices like cinnamon, dark fruits, and tobacco. Its palate is flavourful and structured by delicate tannins. Persistent, its oaky elements are well integrated, inviting pairings with meat in sauce, roasted dishes, characterful cheeses, and autumnal vegetable gratin.

About the Producer Macán

Macán is the new project of Benjamin and Ariane de Rothschild and Vega Sicilia. These two protagonists acquired between 2001 and 2009, discretely and patiently, some 190 vine parcels to constitute the vineyard, now 115 hectares in size. The vineyard is planted in the west, in the most high-quality areas of the Rioja appellation: Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. There, the effect of the Atlantic is to bring a freshness and effectuate a slower maturation of the Tempranillo grapes. The terroir is largely made up of clay and chalk (90%), and is completed by parcels of clay-iron soil. Tempranillo is the star of Rioja, of which it makes up around 80% of varieties grown. Here, the imposing building designed by the Spanish architect Enrique Johansson is made up of three parts, each representing an element of winemaking: earth, water and sun. The monumental ambition is clearly displayed from the entry to the building, and everything comes together to produce a very fine wine. These installations should allow for the production aims to be met: 350,000 bottles.

Detailed characteristics