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MUCH MORE THAN WINE - The endless path to excellence.
There are people who believe that the myth of Vega Sicilia was due to its being an aristocratic wine, in scarce supply, and only within the means of a fortunate few; an object of desire that only a privileged minority could enjoy. However, what many do not know, is that the real origin of the legend lies in a story of hope, commitment and patience on the banks of the River Duero, as it runs through the heart of Castilla, where the river laps against and nourishes a unique and exceptional, nearly magical estate.
This wise, hard, gnarled and barren land was destined to something great. It had to join forces with time to fulfil its great dream: to give the best of itself, achieve extraordinary crops that would fill it with pride and show off the splendour of nature. Yet, to do so, land and time needed man's help. Someone to be their eyes and hands and farm in line with nature's rhythms. As only in that way, when we are humble enough to accept nature's way, do we achieve exceptional results.
Centuries passed waiting for someone to listen to the call of this magical land. And very few people have the gift to see further, to listen to what others hear, to feel what others do not feel. Until one day, fate brought along a man who listened to its call, a man who followed his intuition and change the traditional crop of cereals for the best vine stocks of the 19th century. A man who knew how to learn from nature, patiently respected its rhythms, looked after the land and protected time, thus achieving a perfect balance.
Autumn was the time of the grape harvest and the land could, after all, begin to dream, for which it was pre-destined; the grapes proved to be of an unrivalled quality and personality and, after maturing in the silence and solitude of the winery, became one of the greatest legends of the history of wine. Vega Sicilia was finally born.
What Happens when Vega Sicilia Teams up With Lafite?
Although they haven’t done too much to promote it, Vega Sicilia and Lafite have developed a project together in Rioja called “Macan”. This is like Mercedes merging with Ferrari, so despite the two wine giants tiptoeing into the market, it’s a huge deal.
For those who follow wine news, this is not a breaking story. Vega and Lafite have been working on this project for 15 years!
We first tasted the wines in 2012 at Vega Sicilia about a year before they were released to the New York market. How were they?
Well, let’s just say if you are a fan of Vega’s bold but elegant style you will find a lot to fall in love with here. These are certainly on the modern side (for Rioja) and overflow with the coffee, mocha and smoke of luxurious French oak.
At the same time, the wines have a fine thread of silk that runs through them—a nod to the classic wines of Vina Real from the 1940s, which Vega’s owner is a fan of (who isn’t?). In short, there is something here for modern lovers and classicists alike.
Perhaps the biggest point is that these wines have “introductory” pricing. Sure they are pricey for new wines, but this is Vega and Lafite we are talking about and “Macan” can be had for a fraction of either of those estates. If you consider the time, effort, and funding behind this project—not to mention the pedigree—the pricing is designed to get people tasting and talking about them. We think it’s a great conversation to have!
by Adam Eisenberg