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Winery: Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia

Country / Region: Spain / Rioja

Date Winery was established: 2004

Grape Variety: Tempranillo

Year the vintage was first released: 2009

Alcohol / Volume: 14% / 750ml

Ratings: 95 pts Wine Enthusiast

Decanting Time: 1 hour

Good To Know: Macan was the name chosen for the wines produced by the joint venture of Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia. The name refers to the traditional name of the people of Rioja Alta. After several trials, the partners decided on a style that is uniquely not traditional Rioja as they have decided to forego the use of American oak nor is it the modern "alt-esprecion" neither. It is somewhere in between and best described as "Neo Classical," wherein focus is more on the minerality and complexity of the fruit as well as minimal or rather subtle oak integration.

The joint venture was established in 2004 and has been dubbed "the worst-kept secret in European wine circles," since the goal was purchase the lands and establish the winery in secret. However, with both partners being some of Europe's most renowned names in wine, it was almost impossible to achieve this. The joint venture releases 2 levels of wine annually, following Bordeaux fashion, Macan being the flagship and Macan Classico being the second wine. The flagship being the more age worthy and complex, premium level of wine while the 2nd wine being more easy/everyday drinking but still with a decent capacity to develop with a few years in the cellar.

The 2020 vintage reflects this journey, incorporating new vineyard plots and grape varieties like Garnacha and Graciano to enhance complexity. A warm growing season balanced by ideal rainfall allowed for precise harvesting, preserving the grapes’ freshness. The result is a vintage that’s both bold and refined—marking a defining moment in Macán’s winemaking style.