The harmony of beauty
Macán emerged from the bowels of La Rioja. A wine of yesteryear and today that respects the most authentic and typical style of a prestigious region.
A wine that searches for harmony by turning to its roots. The nature of its origins gives it a special elegance, a lingering mark, wrapping it in an unforgettable balance of sensitivity and expressivity.
Red wine wholly made using the Tempranillo variety. After the alcoholic fermentation, the malolactic process is carried out in barrels and in tanks. The ageing takes place in extrafine and fine grain French wood, the majority in new barrels and the rest in one-wine barrels. It remains in wood for 15 months and then in bottles until it is sold.
Macán and Macán Clásico are the joint vision that two great names of the wine world, Rothschild and Vega Sicilia, have of La Rioja. They are very elegant wines, where the harmony of their aromas and flavours show the authenticity of the land from where they come and its capacity to produce great wines.
Macán lurks rather more in the background, it will have to be time that shapes its great elegance backed by the silkiness of velvety tannins. Wine with a great capacity for ageing than its junior partner and noted for its great minerality.
Its co-existence is due to the desire to preserve the Bordeaux tradition to produce a first and second wine. Both always coexist and are treated exactly the same from the wine to the classification tasting. The different batches of wine of the vintage are then separated, with the two wines being considered individually and showing the differences between them.
Description
Macán is a modern and very personal interpretation of the finest and most expressive wines in DOCa Rioja. It is a commitment to refinement, elegance, complexity and power. It is the flagship brand of Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia, the joint initiative launched in 2004 by Tempos Vega Sicilia and Compagnie Vinicole Edmond de Rothschild.
2009 was the first vintage to be released. Expertise, dedication, patience and a desire to improve have all contributed to the development of a project that today boasts 100 hectares of top quality vineyards and state-of-the-art winemaking facilities that combine technology, tradition and innovation.
Macán is made exclusively from Tempranillo grapes. The fruit comes from a painstaking selection of old plots on elevated terraces and poor, gravelly, clay-limestone soils.
The grapes were rustic when we tasted them in September 2019, but the 80 litres of rain helped to polish this texture. We had to be very careful to avoid overripe grapes and to find the right al dente moment to harvest the fruit. It was a vintage of very gentle, almost infusion-like fermentations, avoiding excessive extraction of the press wines and polishing them before the blending stage. In an attempt to tame the wine, we also reduced the use of barrels in favour of foudres.
The 2019 Macán is full-bodied, juicy, firm and brooding. It is a vintage with great potential to develop.General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
100 ha (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos, Navaridas and Elvillar)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 mYield
4,000 kg/ha - 28 Hl/haHarvest
Manual, in 12 kg boxes, from 26 September to 9 October2019 Vineyard cycle
2019 was a dry year. The lack of rain in May, June and July affected the performance of the vineyards and was accompanied by slightly above average temperatures, even in autumn and winter. In fact, it was the warmest year of the decade, with some days exceeding average temperatures, and a heatwave at the end of June and beginning of July, with unusually high temperatures of over 40 ºC.
The entire ripening period was affected by the drought and the berries developed very slowly. However, the 80 litres of rain that fell in the first fortnight of September quenched the vines' thirst and the fruit began to swell rapidly.
Eventually, the weather was favourable for the harvest, which took place throughout the region with mild conditions, little variation in temperature and no fog or rain to jeopardise yields.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be cellared for 15 years if stored in optimal conditions: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
Best served at 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
87,339 standard Bordeaux bottles, 2,583 Magnum, 112 Double Magnum, 38 Imperial and 6 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
August 2021
Description
Macán is a modern and very personal take on the premium quality signature wines of the Rioja DOCa region. It is a commitment to finesse, elegance, complexity, and potency. It is also the standard bearer for Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia, the project launched by Tempos Vega Sicilia and Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 2004.
The 2009 vintage was the first to launch to market. Knowledge, effort, patience, and a desire for constant improvement have helped to develop a project that currently resides on a 100 hectare asset containing highquality vineyards and cutting-edge production facilities that combine technology, tradition, and innovation. Macán is only made from grapes of the Tempranillo variety. The grape comes from a meticulous selection of mature plots found on high terraces with poorly developed, gravelly, calcareous clay soils.
The Atlantic's influence on the 2018 vintage marked this year's wine. A more productive vintage, with very good water reserves; ultimately, a wine vintage with a bit less substance, but a lot more freshness and elegance. Harvest took place in October and this is one of those vintages that simply cannot go ignored. We were able to go somewhat further than normal during extraction and even slightly increase the barrel weight by 5 %.
Macán 2018, a vibrant, elegant, and subtle vintage. A vintage with nuances, definition, and a trendsetting feeling.General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
38 yearsVineyard surface area
100 ha (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos, Navaridas, and Elvillar)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 mYield
4,000 kg/ha - 28 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from 2 to 14 October2018 Vineyard cycle
2018 was a fresh and damp year with mild winter temperatures and abundant precipitation, including six snowfalls during the first quarter, enabling the soil to gain significant water reserves. Budbreak was 10 days late, and abundant rainfall and moderate temperatures continued throughout spring. Ripening was delayed by 2 weeks as a result.
Harvest went normally, running from 2 to 14 October.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 15 years if stored in the ideal conditions of: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended drinking temperature is 18 ºC/ 64 ºF.Production
74,570 Bordeaux, 2,557 Magnum, 106 Double Magnum, 28 Imperial, and 4 Salmanazar bottles.
Year bottled
August 2020
Description
Macán is a modern and very personal take on the premium quality signature wines of the Rioja DOCa region. It is a commitment to finesse, elegance, complexity, and potency. It is also the standard bearer for Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia, the project launched by Tempos Vega Sicilia and Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 2004.
2009 saw the first vintage launch to market. Knowledge, effort, patience, and a desire for constant improvement have helped to grow a project that currently resides on a 100-hectare asset containing high-quality vineyards and cutting-edge production facilities that combine technology, tradition, and innovation.
Macán is made only from grapes of the Tempranillo variety. The grapes come from a meticulous selection of mature plots found on high terraces with poorly developed gravelly, calcareous clay soils.
The 2017 vintage definitely posed a challenge given the frost on 28 April. We had to adapt, from the configuration of the tanks to being particularly careful with extraction during fermentation, and lastly during pressing operations, whereby we kept them separate and refined them prior to blending in June. The foudre played a very important role in refining the tannin's texture during ageing and the barrel enabled us to work on the sweetness, using 50 % new barrels.
Macán 2017, a challenging vintage that we are proud of. It is a wine with character, freshness, and depth.General information
Alcohol by volume
14,5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
37 yearsVineyard surface area
100 ha (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, Ábalos, Navaridas, and Elvillar)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 mYield
2,000 kg/ha - 14 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from 15 to 27 September2017 Vineyard cycle
The winter of 2017 was mild and moderately dry. December and January were both cooler and more inclement, but the second half of February saw high temperatures (almost spring-like). 2017 will always be known for the late frosts that affected crops across the northern half of Spain. The BR-VS plots in particular received a light frost in San Vicente de la Sonsierra on 20 April. The advection frost on 28 April (a cold snap from northern Europe) was more serious, affecting areas of the vineyard.
Intermittent rainfall and good temperatures during the spring months helped speed up the vineyard's growing cycle to some extent. Rainfall increased again in June, with over 70 litres per square metre. July saw storms with some hail damage, although the good wind and temperature conditions over the next few days meant that the damage and impacts healed correctly and quickly.
Subsequent precipitation in late August and early September helped to mitigate water scarcity in the medium and deep radicular areas. The rainfall during those months favoured both plant growth and the normal development of the grape's ripening process. Harvesting was normal, running from 15 to 27 September, with good weather conditions.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 15 years if stored in the ideal conditions of: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended drinking temperature is 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
40,400 Bordeaux bottles, 2,566 Magnum, 125 Double Magnum, 37 Imperial, and 5 Salmanazar bottles.
Year bottled
August 2019
Description
Macán is a modern and very personal take on the premium quality and highly expressive wines of the DOCa Rioja. It is a commitment to fineness, elegance, complexity and power. And it is the flagship of Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia, the project launched by Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Compagnie
Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 2004.
2009 was the first vintage released on the market, and this 2016 Macán endorses the work achieved over these years. Knowledge, effort, patience and a spirit of constant improvement have boosted the growth of a project that currently resides on a 98-hectare estate of high-quality vineyards and cutting-edge production facilities that fuse technology, tradition and innovation.
Macán is made only from grapes of the Tempranillo variety, from a meticulous selection of mature plots found on high terraces with poor gravelly soils of a loamy-calcareous nature.
During fermentation, in the winery´s first year, the extraction was very precise and the evolution of the oak lead to a better blending in the ageing phase, which took place in barrels (50 % new) of French origin and a 4,000-litre Foudre for sixteen months.
Macán 2016 is the consolidation of the sought-after style. It is a wine with density, but at the same time, it is fresh, concise and deep.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
36 yearsVineyard surface area
102 haPlanting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 mYield
3,700 Kg/ha - 25 Hl/haHarvest
Manual in 12 kg boxes from September 17th to October 3rd2016 Vineyard cycle
From a meteorological point of view, 2016 vintage was marked by abundant rainfall in the winter months that built up water reserves, which were key to overcoming a very dry and relatively hot summer. The bud break occurred on 20 April, somewhat later than the previous year, while flowering took place on 20 June. In the months of August and September, water stress situations aggravated the ripening issues caused by overproduction on many plots throughout La Rioja.
In summer, a shortage of rainfall resulted in bunches with smaller berries at the beginning of the season, but the moderate rains that fell in the third week of September helped complete the ripening process. These positive climate conditions increased production expectations.
The harvest took place from 17 September to 3 October.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be stored for 10-15 years in optimal conditions: 12-14 °C / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended serving temperature is 18 °C / 64 ºF.Production
87,792 Bordeaux bottles, 2,570 Magnum, 135 Double Magnum, 38 Imperial and 5 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
May 2018
Description
Macán is a modern yet personal view of the high profile and maximum quality vineyard in the Rioja DOC. It promises finesse, elegance, complexity and strength. Macán is the winery´s flagship, a project started by Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild in 2004.
2009 was the first vintage released and this Macán 2015 represents the hard work carried out these years. Knowledge, effort, patience and the strive to improve contribute to the project´s success that currently lies over a wine-growing heritage of 92 hectares of high-quality vineyard and modern wine-making facilities that merge technology, tradition and innovation.
Macán is exclusively produced using Tempanillo grapes, by reason of a meticulous selection from old parcels lying over high terraces and poor soils, gravel with very little evolution and of calcareous marl nature. Its fermentation includes French oak casks and new oak for barrel ageing and a five month final stay in large capacity oak casks or "fudre" before a 3 years of bottle ageing.Macán 2015 projects an energetic and fresh vision. It is a voluptuous wine, but at the same time reflexive and deep.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
36 yearsVineyard surface area
92 haPlanting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 mYield
3,500 kg/ha - 24 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg cases from September 17 to October 32015 Vineyard cycle
Vintage 2015 is marked by a cold and very humid winter, with almost 500 l/m2 between the months of October and March. This water availability, along with a dry and warm spring, facilitated budding and the start of the vineyard's vegetative cycle in optimal conditions. The thermometers remained high throughout the summer, accompanied by occasional episodes of storms providing the needed water for the plant to complete a good maturation. All this lead to good sanity conditions, only altered by several hail incidents that reduced yield in the affected areas.
The harvest was carried out normally, between 17th of September and the 3th of October, with dry weather, good day-night thermal contrast and, therefore, an adequate balance of the grape components.
A warm vintage sustained by a very favorable winter.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 15 - 20 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12-14 ºC, 60% relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.Production
74,247 Bordeaux bottles, 2,563 Magnum, 116 Double Magnum, 37 Imperial and 5 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
May 2017
Description
Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia was born in 2004 as the result of a joint venture between Tempos Vega Sicilia and the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Both firms share the idea of making great wines in La Rioja, a unique, singular, inimitable winegrowing region. After five years of terroir evaluation and acquisition of 92 ha of vineyard, the project takes shape in 2009 with the first vintage of our two wines: Macán and Macán Clásico. To offer a modern and unique vision of Rioja is our philosophy, following the Bordeaux model of a first and second wine.
Macán is the winery´s flagship. It is fineness, delicacy and elegance, produced by reason of a meticulous grape selection harvested from our best plots. Ferments 10-15 days in French oak barrels ages in extra fine grain oak barrels for 16 to 18 months and sits in bottle for at least three years before its release.
Macán 2014 projects an attractive expression. It´s a fleshy pleasurable wine, intense and pensive.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
92 haPlanting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
483 mYield
3,700 kg/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg cases from the last week of September to the first week of October2014 Vineyard cycle
Abundant rainfall and cool temperatures in winter caused delay in the start of the vineyard´s cycle. Improvement was attributed to high temperatures in spring and early summer followed by evenly spread rainfall in key moments for optimal plant development. These favorable conditions, resulting in a healthy vine management, were reinforced with warm weather in July and August. Despite the delay in the start of cycle, ripening accelerated considerably bringing forward the cycle a few days compared to an average year.
Harvest took place the last week of September through the first week of October and in spite of the high temperature episodes and sporadic rainfall, the grapes were very high quality.
Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 15-20 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12-14 ºC and 60% relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.
Production
66,085 Bordeaux bottles, 2,042 Magnum, 86 Double Magnum and 25 Imperial
Year bottled
May 2016
Description
Rioja is passion, tenacity and tradition, and Bodegas Benjamín de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia aim to express these values in this unique land. A new project deeply rooted in history, based on admiration for Rioja´s wine-growing trajectory, maturing through time and evolving into two great wines: Macán and Macán Clásico.
This is the fruit of a decade of painstaking work. First, in the search for and acquisition of 90 hectares of maximum quality land that today make up Bodegas Benjamín de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia. Second, Macán & Macán Clásico were born in the year 2009 after many years of tests. And third, with the construction of state of the art winemaking and ageing facilities in Samaniego, a new winery is being built on the slopes of Rioja and the Cantabria Mountain Range.
Macán is Bodegas Benjamín de Rothschild & Vega Sicilia´s flagship. It is elegance and depth. Its freshness and fruitiness is the result of a meticulous grape selection from our best "pagos" (vineyards) in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. Its fineness and complexity is expressed in its making in oak casks with a 20% malolactic fermentation in barrel. Its silky tannin is a genuine result of very old vines, variety Tempranillo, along with cautious ageing of 14 months using only extra-fine grain french wood. It's a reflexive, intense wine relating to modern times.
Complicated year in terms of weather conditions, where vineyard work is reflected in the quality of the wine. A great deal of selection to attain its maximum potential, bringing out a tremendously elegant, subtle, harmonious and fresh wine.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
90 ha (split between Samaniego, Ábalos, Baños de Ebro, Labastida, El Villar and San Vicente de la Sonsierra)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
500 mYield
3,500 kg /ha2013 Vineyard cycle
Mild winter with rain throughout the entire season. Cold spring causing a slow budding. Cool summer with an adequate thermal contrast between day and night at end of cycle. Veraison in mid-August (15 days late according to average) and a later harvest compared to previous years; precipitation and low temperatures during harvest.
Storage, serving and drinking window
These wines are ready for drinking now but may potentially be stored for approximately 15-20 years if kept in optimum conditions (12-15 ºC) at 60% relative humidity, and constant temperature, protected from direct light.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.
Production
52,000 bordeaux bottles, 2,062 magnum bottles, 78 double magnum bottles and 19 imperial bottles.
Year bottled
June 2015.
Description
Bodegas Benjamin de Rotshchild Vega Sicilia is the joint perspective of two of the world's great names in wine - Rothschild and Vega Sicilia, on La Rioja. It marks the conjunction of sun, earth, water and man in a quest for an inimitable style uniting tradition and vanguard.
The wines are produced within the Rioja Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) designation, where for over 12 years high-quality terroirs were bought in the Alava villages of Samaniego, Baños de Ebro, Labastida and El Villar, and in the Riojan village of San Vicente. The search was one for the complexity and authenticity required to produce harmonious and elegant wines.
Macán is an elegant and profound wine with silky tannins matured in extra fine-grained French oak barrels for 15-18 months.
Macán is a profound, mineral and complex wine which requires time to express itself. It is a more reflexive and penetrating wine.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14 %Variety
TempranilloAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
90 ha (split between Samaniego, Baños de Ebro, Labastida, El Villar and San Vicente)Planting density
3,333 plants/haAltitude
550 mYield
3,500 kg /haHarvest
Hand-picked, in 12 kg-boxes2012 Vineyard cycle
The vineyard cycle was totally normal, with a mild winter, and a spring with good rains in terms of timing and quantities, which maintained the vines in an appropriate condition both health-wise and in terms of phenology, and a hot end to summer also contributing to the normal scheme of things.
Clear skies in September allowed for unhurried grape picking at each plot - which sought the right balance between the qualitative components, and outstanding health to ensure 2012 was a great vintage.
Storage, serving and drinking window
These wines are ready for drinking now but may potentially be stored for approximately 15-20 years under optimum conditions (12-14 ºC) at 40% relative humidity, at a constant temperature.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.
Production
54,889 Bordeaux bottles, 1,686 Magnums, 75 Double Magnums and 16 Imperial.Year bottled
June 2014.
