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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 94.8 pts. and median of 95 pts. in 124 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Henman on 1/22/2024 & rated 92 points: At Rare wine dinner (Muru). Funky and red fruity notes on the nose. Medium bodied, smooth and silky, showing subtle mellow red fruit with umami/funky notes and smooth and almost resolved tannins. This was nicely developed. (843 views) | | | Tasted by BradE on 8/13/2023: Another good vs great bottle of the 89 Unico. (It can be great.) (1363 views) | | | Tasted by melvinyeowq on 3/31/2023 & rated 96 points: Beat the '90 Latour: My contribution. Echoing what PCLIN said, I never had a Unico that moved me but I put the bottle in the capable hands of Dibbs who gave it the ideal preparation, i.e. five hours of air, for it to show wonderfully.
This was the first wine served and it was roaring from the start. Incredibly seductive nose that rivalled the best Burgs or Piedmont - so lifted and floral at the same time with a distinct roasted coffee note. Such a youthful palate that it could have passed off as a wine half its age, silky and pure dark red fruits but with a firm backbone. I value the nose and texture as the most important characteristics in wines and this scored full marks for both in my book. Did fade slightly towards the end of dinner though. Brilliant wine. (2253 views) | | | Tasted by Dibbs on 3/31/2023 & rated 97 points: Beat the 1990 Latour: Group’s and my WOTN. We had two Unico skeptics in the group and by the end of the night, we had two new converts. The 89 is drinking absolutely beautifully with a flirty Burgundian elegance. What it might lack in concentration vs the Latour it more than made up with its finesse and an absolute knockout of a nose. With higher acidity than the Bordeaux’s, more red fruited and sexy, it defies classification and stands as a truly singular wine that delivers year after year. (1873 views) | | | Tasted by pclin on 3/31/2023 & rated 96 points: Single blind. Co WOTN with ‘90 Latour. This had the most explosive nose of all the wines tonight, I confidently guessed Dujac CldR without taking a sip initially, lol. Had never been moved by any Unico previously despite many encounters, this was a first. Good length and depth with years to go. Great showing tonight. (1888 views) | | | Tasted by pavel_p on 3/31/2023 & rated 93 points: Beat the 1990 Latour: Garnet with bricking towards the rim. A bit of a roasted quality on the nose. Initially fairly tannic and not very aromatic but opened up later with more air. Very bright aromatically indeed then. Clearly still a long life ahead. The favorite at the table and while I liked it it did not really speak to me that night.
Had this initially as the 88 Mouton given the tannins and muted aromatics, then the 90 Latour as the wine opened up, and only decided on Unico after revisiting later when it became clear that this was no Bordeaux. (1561 views) | | | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 3/1/2023: Pre-Paulee Warm-up Dinner (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Alongside 1990. All black fruited, lots here, but clearly still brooding. Impressive weight and density tells me how great this wine can/will be, but tonight it was slightly less expressive than previous bottles, even with some decanter time. 93 points tonight, 94-95 points in the future. (1517 views) | | | Tasted by Nanda on 3/1/2023 & rated 95 points: Pre La Paulée Dinner with friends (Home): 89-90 side-by-side. Decanted for 2-3 hours. A sensational wine and oh so young. Packed with pure, seamless fruit and matched with a elegant but still present structure. At peak and should hold for a long time. (1290 views) | | | Tasted by KenK on 3/1/2023 & rated 96 points: In a great spot and drinking really well. Still showing nice dark fruit, damp soil, and grilling spices that are well integrated. Wonderfully balanced by the structure. Cork was nearly perfect with no signs of any seepage. (743 views) | | | Tasted by Nontaco on 12/27/2022 & rated 96 points: Boxing Day dinner at the Royal Crescent. Finally an Unico with some real bottle age, and such a difference compared to younger bottles. Tertiary characteristics but still very much alive with some enjoyable spice elements that distinguish it (but only so slightly) from an aged Bordeaux. (999 views) | | | Tasted by beatles on 9/6/2022 & rated 97 points: My, my ... is good, has really opened. So much fruit here, sweet and local, spicy, chalky, vertical.
#El Cellar de Can Rocca #JubileTasting (2015 views) | | | Tasted by Goldstone on 5/25/2022 & rated 96 points: Dinner with Greg & Sayo (Clarence, 25/F H-Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Hong Kong): From Greg, from a case of 12 he and I bought on release. Decanded too briefly for 2+ hours on arrival at the restaurant but saved for another 2 hours (I last decanted a bottle for 8 hours last week which seemed better). That said the wine just 'sang' from first pour. Incredibly linear and 'Alice Down the Rabbit Hole' from first impact on the nose through to the ridiculously long reverberant and resonant finale on the final swallow. This has a lean elegance that requires a bit of experience to truly appreciate....and it has only just entered it drinking window, so give it another 10+ years to appeal to a wider hedonistic audience. Wow...this is a very high score on my scale. (1875 views) | | | Tasted by peternelson on 5/4/2022 flawed bottle: Corked. Dirty Dozen TOC dinner at Paella (1735 views) | | | Tasted by Goldstone on 3/29/2022 & rated 96 points: Second of a case bought on release and opened for a special birthday lunch with a mate I knew would really appreciate it. Decanted for c5 hours then re-bottled overnight. Semi translucent bur deep jeweled ruby core. Nose is still quite tightly coiled and reticent but showing enormous depth and purity of ‘fossilised’ black and red berry fruits. Anthracite. Palate shows lovely angular poise, very high cheek-boned and pure intense black cherry and blackcurrant reduction. Wow… is this resonant or what? Massive BLAM! Oh gosh, I’m going into reveries…. and will only improve as it opens up more in the coming 10-15 years. 96-97 for now. (1754 views) | | | Tasted by Tudz Drkl on 7/31/2020 & rated 95 points: Fantastic! Still fresh and well structured. Intense and nuanced at the same time. From another dimension. (3759 views) | | | Tasted by RayOB on 7/31/2020 & rated 94 points: Drank at Home
Absolutely singing, beautiful complex and deep. Wow (3290 views) | | | Tasted by WildeMeeuw on 7/12/2020 & rated 97 points: Kleur: Robijnrood met een oranjebruine verkleuring aan de rand. Aroma / bouquet: Wow, een briljant en elegant bouquet met accenten van cederhout, leer, kersencompote en gedroogde pruimen. En geen spoor van tè-tertiaire aroma's als maggi of madeira. Deze wijn is 31 jaar oud en nog steeds alive-and-kickin'. Smaak / Afdronk: Ik heb zelden een zo belegen wijn in mijn glas gehad met een concentratie en balans als deze 1989 Vega. Verfijnd maar krachtig met een mooie balans tussen mondvullende zuren, tannines en alcohol. Serieus lange afdronk. Algemeen / potentieel: Ik beschouw mezelf als vineus gerontofiel in regressie. Wijnen konden me niet voldoende belegen zijn. Ik begin inmiddels terug te komen op dat standpunt. Maar voor Vega Sicilia maak ik graag een uitzondering…. Wat een extreme klassewijn….. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Smaak / Afdronk: 19 + Algemeen / potentieel: 9 = 97/100
Color: Ruby red with an orange-brown discoloration on the edge. Aroma / bouquet: Wow, a brilliant and elegant bouquet with accents of cedar wood, leather, cherry compote and prunes. And no trace of tertiary aromas such as maggi or madeira. This wine is 31 years old and still alive and kickin '. Taste / Finish: I have seldom had such a matured wine in my glass with a concentration and balance as this 1989 Vega. Refined but powerful with a nice balance between mouth-filling acids, tannins and alcohol. Seriously long aftertaste. General / potential: I consider myself vineus gerontophile-in-regression. Wines could not be sufficiently mature. I am now starting to return to that position. But I would like to make an exception for Vega Sicilia…. What an extreme class wine… .. 50 + Color: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 14 + Taste / Finish: 19 + General / potential: 9 = 97/100 (3127 views) | | | Tasted by nywine68 on 2/19/2020 & rated 93 points: Vega Sicilia Unico Vertical 1953-1994 (Hosted by Cedric at Eleven Madison Park): Another young, ripe full-bodied version with more black than red fruit. This has 80% Tempranillo in the blend. Next to the 1985 this has a bit less depth and length. (3800 views) | | | Tasted by MattMauldin on 12/21/2019 & rated 97 points: Decades of Decadence - "The 9's" (Buellton, CA): Aromas of worn cedar, leather, cassis, sawdust, earth and mushroom. Silky and seamless palate and just expands and broadens as it goes. Very secondary but plenty of fruit, huge middle with great depth. Very finely structured with big depth on the finish. Broad and massive, but with stately elegance and grace. Showing beautifully. (3813 views) | | | Tasted by JonnyG on 12/19/2019 & rated 97 points: Decades of Decadence -- the '9' Edition (Our Favorite Spot in Buellton, CA): An outstanding Unico, drinking at peak. Savory and smoky layers of sweet baked fruit, cedar and anise, with a density of flavors that still managed to come off as spry and energetic. Tremendously long and expansive finish. (2254 views) | | | Tasted by Nipperu on 12/7/2019 & rated 98 points: Clear med ruby
Black fruit: blackcurrant, cherries
Cured meat, leather
Underbrush
Edit: after 15 mins the nose is much more developed, dried fruit - cherries, cranberries; fully-integrated vanilla/oak
Dry
Fruit more advanced on the palate - mix of fresh and dried fruit, prunes?
Long finish
High tannins
Med acid
Med body
Med- alcohol (12.5% tasted vs 13.5% actual)
Finish for days. Super good.
"It tastes good. IT TASTES GOOD!" (2019 views) | | | Tasted by NoTrollingerPlease on 11/9/2019 & rated 95 points: Best bottle (Restaurant Holz und Feuer, Kirchheim, Germany): Glass: Gabriel Standard
Popped and poured, not decanted. Clear, deep tawny color. Clean, pronounced and amazingly complex nose. Very deep, herbaceous, menthol, red fruit, espresso, leather.
On the palate very elegant and balanced. Some extract sweetness. Wonderful ripe acidity. 13,5%. Fine grained tannin. Amazing length! Still very young with a bright and shiny future. It will certainly continue to develop for at least another decade. 95-97 (2377 views) | | | Tasted by canan on 10/26/2019 & rated 95 points: BYO - Rasmus: Very impressive but simply WAY to young. Never really opens up! (1192 views) | | | Tasted by Nanda on 4/23/2019 & rated 95 points: What a gorgeously youthful Unico. Chock full of red fruit with spice from fruit and oak, and a clear, well-integrated American Oak element. It's pretty hard to believe this is a 30 year old wine, as it's still so primary and fresh. Give it another 10 years -- upside from here. (2551 views) | | | Tasted by salil on 4/23/2019 & rated 96 points: Dinner at Nico Osteria: Well this is a fireworks display. Still remarkably youthful and barely showing any of its 30 years of age - the fruit here still seems very primary and youthful, augmented nicely by the oak, and showing more savoury earthy and smoky notes on the back end. There's striking power and intensity on the palate here, but it also feels remarkably polished and graceful for such a big, intense wine - there's really bright acidity keeping it very fresh, and a remarkably long finish. (2719 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Sarah Jane Evans MW
Decanter, Vega Sicilia anniversary tasting (9/6/2022)
(Vega Sicilia, Único, Tempranillo / Tinto Fino, Ribera del Duero, Spain, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (9/6/2022)
(Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero Unico, Spain) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (9/6/2022)
(Vega Sicilia, Único Ribera del Duero Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jan/Feb 2020, Issue #85, The Timeless Beauty of Vega Sicilia Único
(Vega Sicilia Único) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Mar/Apr 2017, Issue #68, Recently Tasted, Superb Spanish Wines Part Two
(Vega Sicilia Único (Ribera del Duero)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jeannie Cho Lee MW
Decanter, Vega Sicilia: 35 vintages of Unico (2/10/2014)
(Vega Sicilia, Unico, Ribera del Duero, Mainland Spain, Spain, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (6/19/2012)
(Vega Sicilia, Único Ribera del Duero Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2010
(Vega Sicilia Unico (Ribera del Duero)) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Bipin's Thanksgiving (1/21/2008)
(Vega Sicilia Unico) Login and sign up and see review text. | By John Kapon
Vintage Tastings, Paris a la Mode with Dr. Desai (9/19/2005)
(Vega Sicilia Unico) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2003
(Vega Sicilia Unico) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/3/2003)
(Vega Sicilia, Unico Ribera del Duero Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, July/August 2003, IWC Issue #109
(Bodegas y Vinedos Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Ribera del Duero) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/12/2014)
(Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único) Bricking dark red violet color; mature, tart currant, tobacco, anise, dried berry, cigar box nose; delicious, youthful, rich, creamy textured, roasted black fruit, espresso, baked berry, anise, cocoa, dried berry palate; long finish (80% Tempranillo, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) 97 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/8/2011)
(Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único) Bricked medium dark red violet color; rich, evocative, dried berry, mushroom, autumnal, woodsy, tart nose; youthful, rich, complex, dried berry, tart black fruit, berry palate with medium acidity; long finish 96+ points 96 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (4/26/2008)
(Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único) Vega Sicilia Unico vertical dinner: blackberry, black fruit and dill pickle (American oak) nose; tight, tart blackberry and black fruit palate with high acidity; medium-plus finish 93 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Decanter and JamesSuckling.com and JancisRobinson.com and View From the Cellar and Winedoctor and Vintage Tastings and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Producer WebsiteTempranillo BlendTempranillo is the backbone of wines made ihvhhcn the best well-known Spanish regions Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but is also grown as far afield as Mexico and Australia.
As a flavor profile, red fruits like strawberries and cherries can predominate - but with a rustic edge. The Many wines made from Tempranillo will spend a few years in barrel and bottle before reaching the consumers . Many Tempranillo-based wines see a few years of oak - add that to a few years of bottle and the wine can give a subtle - and occasionaly not-so-subtle - leathery mouthfeel. The combination of the tart fruit and tannins make this wine very food friendly.Spain Vinos de España - Wines of Spain (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior) | Wikipedia
Wine Map on weinlagen-info
Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles. Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces. Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain. Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous [sic] Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. - Source: - Catavino.net
Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos (when sweetened). But apart from Sherry Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre. The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now. The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial). Based on in-spain.info.Castilla y León Castilla y León Wine (Turismo Castilla y León )Ribera del Duero El Corazón del Duero - The Heart of Duero (Consejo Regulador de la D.O. Ribera del Duero) |
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