97 points Virginie Boone (JebDunnuck.com): "From the sister property of Vega Sicilia in Rioja, a partnership between the Alvarez and Rothschild families, the 2021 Macan Clasico has unrelenting freshness and is gorgeously aromatic. The vintage conditions were perfect and the wines able to achieve exceptional quality. Here, the Tempranillo is joined by 3% Garnacha, which provides additional brightness to juicy layers of red berry, cigar, and dried herb, with a foundation of supple tannins. Medium-bodied, the oak is well-integrated, interweaving the lilting spice and toast notes from a combination of French and American barrels that aged the wine for 14-16 months. With a long, silky, and finessed finish, it’s drinking perfectly now. Continue to enjoy over the next 10-15 years. Drink: 2025-2040. (7/30/25)"
95 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$80 list] The 2021 Macán Clásico comes from a fantastic year in Rioja; it was the second vintage where they used some Garnacha (maybe 5% this year, they are increasing slowly). It was harvested at the same time as Tempranillo and adds freshness. It was a year of above-average rain, a mild spring and some hail in mid-June that affected seven hectares of vines but didn't touch the rest. The weather was stable during the harvest, with mild temperatures. The wine has a moderate 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and 4.7 grams of acidity. Fifty percent of the volume was inoculated with their native yeast, and fermentation was in stainless steel. Forty percent of the wine matured in new French oak barrels, 30% in used French oak, 5% in American oak and the remaining 25% was kept in stainless steel. It has an herbal twist and a more Atlantic character, reflecting a cooler (less warm) vintage. It's fine-grained, textured and chalky, with very fine tannins and great balance. It was bottled in August 2023. Drink: 2025-2035. (1/2/25)"
95 points Tim Atkin, MW: "Vega Sicilia (and partner Benjamin de Rothschild) never seem to do things in a hurry, so it's taken a while for them to make a Macán Clásico that they are really proud of. This blend of Tempranillo and 1% Garnacha reflects the quality of the vintage, with lovely perfume, sculpted tannins, subtle 40% new wood (and a 15% stainless steel component), black cherry, summer berry and vanilla spice flavours and a tapering finish. 2026-2040. (2025)"
94 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "Style: defined aromas. Color: Cherry. Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, red berry notes. Flavour: full-bodied, long, great length. (Jul 2024)"
93 points James Suckling: "Black olives and a hint of black bean puree to the fresh black cherries, damsons and a hint of mint. Refined, medium-bodied palate with fine, fresh tannins that are present but not grainy. Really elegant and long. Drinkable now, but will develop well in the next six to seven years. (8/16/23)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "An elegant red, with a warm and inviting range of cherry, plum and mulberry fruit flavors enmeshed with refined, limber tannins. There’s a floral edge, with hints of violet and lavender, but also accents of dark chocolate, smoked paprika, iron and earth that add complexity through the long, creamy finish. Drink now through 2035. (9/30/25)"
95 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$80 list] The 2021 Macán Clásico comes from a fantastic year in Rioja; it was the second vintage where they used some Garnacha (maybe 5% this year, they are increasing slowly). It was harvested at the same time as Tempranillo and adds freshness. It was a year of above-average rain, a mild spring and some hail in mid-June that affected seven hectares of vines but didn't touch the rest. The weather was stable during the harvest, with mild temperatures. The wine has a moderate 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and 4.7 grams of acidity. Fifty percent of the volume was inoculated with their native yeast, and fermentation was in stainless steel. Forty percent of the wine matured in new French oak barrels, 30% in used French oak, 5% in American oak and the remaining 25% was kept in stainless steel. It has an herbal twist and a more Atlantic character, reflecting a cooler (less warm) vintage. It's fine-grained, textured and chalky, with very fine tannins and great balance. It was bottled in August 2023. Drink: 2025-2035. (1/2/25)"
95 points Tim Atkin, MW: "Vega Sicilia (and partner Benjamin de Rothschild) never seem to do things in a hurry, so it's taken a while for them to make a Macán Clásico that they are really proud of. This blend of Tempranillo and 1% Garnacha reflects the quality of the vintage, with lovely perfume, sculpted tannins, subtle 40% new wood (and a 15% stainless steel component), black cherry, summer berry and vanilla spice flavours and a tapering finish. 2026-2040. (2025)"
94 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "Style: defined aromas. Color: Cherry. Aroma: complex, expressive, spicy, mineral, red berry notes. Flavour: full-bodied, long, great length. (Jul 2024)"
93 points James Suckling: "Black olives and a hint of black bean puree to the fresh black cherries, damsons and a hint of mint. Refined, medium-bodied palate with fine, fresh tannins that are present but not grainy. Really elegant and long. Drinkable now, but will develop well in the next six to seven years. (8/16/23)"
92 points Wine Spectator: "An elegant red, with a warm and inviting range of cherry, plum and mulberry fruit flavors enmeshed with refined, limber tannins. There’s a floral edge, with hints of violet and lavender, but also accents of dark chocolate, smoked paprika, iron and earth that add complexity through the long, creamy finish. Drink now through 2035. (9/30/25)"
| Product SKU | 355735 |
| Producer | Rothschild & Vega Sicilia |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Varietal | Other Red Wines |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| ABV | 14.0% |
| Ships To |
