20 Mature Magnums (mostly Bdx, w/ Unico, Vogue Musigny, Marthas): From magnum. Two Unicos side-by-side. Clear win and my best Unico yet was the 1965 (97pts) which showed me for the first time why people rave about this wine. Like all old Unicos I tasted before, there was just not enough fruit and sweetness but this time, this was compensated by a sweet malty and caramel/toffee core. It tasted like a great old Bordeaux. The 1962 (92pts) showed much less complex, with not enough sweetness and hence a slightly off balance.
TN: A mature nose with dark berries and some malty notes, super fresh with some minerality accents, some caramel. With time so much more coffee and caramel on the nose. Wow. On the palate the same malty notes, some caramel, fresh dark fruit core. As mentioned above, the missing sweetness from the fruit is compensated by the malty notes, the caramel and toffee aromas. Very layered with new nuances popping up with every sip. The same super freshness, lots of tension like the 1962 but without hard edges. Medium length only but overall a great wine and one of the winners of the night.
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Magnum Rarities Tasting in Zurich (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): From Magnum: Black coffee, milk chocolate, tobacco and dried herbs emerge first. The fruit includes hints of red berry but mainly presents more dark fruit of plum. The palate is beautifully fresh, adds more aging notes, long finish. This was outstanding and the best bottle of aged Unico to date.
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Annual Richter All-Magnum Extravaganza: Beautiful bootle. Dried bread, plums, espresso, caramel, coffee-yogurt, butter, good mouthfeel and enough fat in the palate to wrap around that elevated acidtiy. Unico at its best.
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A rare treat - as it were - to taste a wine from my terrible birth-year, this is surprisingly good. Mature, certainly #El Cellar de Can Rocca #JubileTasting
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As old as it is, this still needs 30 minutes of air to show what it has. Dark fruit, a lot of oak and caramel on the finish. Tannins a bit dry at this age but expected. This is well done in the context of a poor vintage but as emotionally attached as I am to the vintage it is not not amongst the best Unico's and the fruit is fading and this started to dry out a bit after an hour. Drink now. A-
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Aged Bordeaux Gems (with Unico/Heitz MV in the mix): Magnum. Top shoulder level. This paled in comparison the 1960 Unico we had in the next glass. It misses expression, fairly muted and too astringent but you could sense that there is much more potential. Would have been great to drink this after 6, 7 hours in the decanter, although I’m not sure if the acidity will ever fully integrate.
TN: Quite singular nose with lots of fresh dark berries and an intense mineral component, just some hints of tobacco and burnt sugar. Muted on the palate with blue fruits peaking through but despite a lot of swirling it remained muted the whole time with just a little bit of sweetness popping up here and there to balance out the very masculine and mineral profile. Not yet very harmonious with still slightly noticeable tannins but especially an acidity which is too high.
Decanting: Double decanted only. Would have needed several hours om the decanter.
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Magnum rarities tasting (Near Basel): This was part of a rarity old wine tasting hosted by a merchant and collector. All (almost) bottles were from magnum and double-decanted. The line-ups was dominated by aged Bordeaux, but also included two vintages of Unico and one from Martha's Vineyard. The undisputed winners were Pichon Lalande 82 and Lynch Bages 82. The most memorable, however, was the Pontet Canet 29 and St Croix Dumonts 21. The Unico (60, 65) were underwhelming as was – once again for me – Mouton 82.
Tasting note: Double decanted, magnum. A more red berry, raspberry type of fruit and discreet sweet savoury notes. But I couldn't help sensing some soy notes lingering in the background. These became more dominant on the palate where balance gave way to acidity. This couldn't hold its ground to the older but more present 1960.
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This was drinking really well. Very good bottle. Lots of black fruits and spices and tobacco and leather and overall everything is nicely integrated. Still tastes a touch tight and young which is amazing given the age. Drinking well.
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Vega Sicilia Unicos (Peppercorn's (Hartford, CT)): Good, healthy dark red, with a garnet rim. This one is definitely passed the secondary stage and well onto it tertiary phase. Dried leaves, soy, caramel and a savory quality. A bit of a lactic, milky quality. An interesting wine, but not that enjoyable for me. Others liked it (a lot) more than I. Not rated.
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Dinner with José (Hugo's Frog Bar Naperville): Medium-deep ruby color. Classic Único profile, like a savory ruby port reduction. Showing a bit less freshness and fruit than the best bottles, but the elegance is there.
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Unico tasting (27 different vintages) at the Rheingau Gourmet Festival 2017: the wine looked ruby colored; only a slight smell and taste of black and red berries; the body was medium; medium-strong acidity.
Vintages 2nd flight: 1964-1965-1966-1967-1969
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2015/09/vega-sicilia-unico-1965-magnum.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - De color rubí granatoso de capa media-alta, oscuro, tapado. Limpio, brillante, con escatas de precipitado en la base de la botella, algo más de lo que suele ser habitual. Reflejos rojizos y ambarinos. Ribete atejado, marcado respecto al menisco. Cierta sensación de grosor.
Finísimo y compacto, innamovible, sin necesidad de tomar aire para expresarse con mayor intensidad. Se entrega desde el primer momento con un perfil de Único elegantísimo, comparable al magnum de 1962, aunque desprovisto de ese apunte oportizado, licoroso, que los diferencia claramente. Sutil, vaporoso, sacando notas brumosas a especias exóticas, maderas finas, cava de puro y un complejo apunte de fondo a caramelo de violetas y uva pasa. A lo largo de 3 horas se queda amarrado a estos registros y no deja espacio a nada más. Lo dicho: tan delicado como íntegro.
En boca se presenta en plenitud, con una ligera sensación abocada (cremosos) contrarrestada por la acidez. Repleto de fruta fresca, hibiscus, y unos taninos aterciopelados de cine. Incluso más elegante que en boca, sin ninguna arista. Uno de esos Vega Sicilia infalibles, mullidos, que juegan sobre seguro. Se prolonga con suavidad por horas. Pero qué bien le sienta el formato de doble botella a este vino!!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 75% tinto fino, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot y albillo. 13.5% vol. - Uva procedente únicamente de viñedos propios. Tras finaliza la fermentación alcohólica es trasegado a grandes envases de madera en los que realiza la fermentación maloláctica y se estabiliza durante un mínimo de 5 años. Nuevamente es transvasado para continuar el proceso de maduración en barricas de roble de 225 litros a lo largo de 10 años. Sometido a diversas trasiegas de barrica a barrica. Producción limitada a 91.000 botellas bordelesas y 2.000 magnum. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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Madison Offline 2015; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015: Same youthful garnet color as the other Unicos in the lineup, though shaded more toward chocolate than cherry. Comparatively a bit shy, soft, lacking structure. Still giving great pleasure because of its elegance and soft mouthfeel, but I suspect a slight problem with this bottle as it is so far below expectations. Not scored.
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Throwndown in Madtown; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015 (Madison, WI): Another great bottle. This one has less life than the others tries. On the nose, red currants, raspberry, spice, tobacco, and a hint of mineral. On the palate, ripe strawberry, raspberry, currant, tobacco. Finish has nice grip but lacks the acidity of the other vintages.
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Two bottles, and I believe both were from the lot purchased from Spain. These were both great, showing dark fruit, earth, caramel, and a better finish than my last bottle. For many this was the wine of the night, but for me it was outdone by a couple of others - but still outstanding. Not sure how much longer this one can go, but it is a really good wine - maybe great in the context of the vintage. A-
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A fine, complex nose with notes of mint and kirsch cherries. A bit disjointed on the palate and quite reserved compared to the other older vintages. To me, the fruit is not standing up to the elevated acidity anymore. Near the bottom of the vintages tasted tonight.
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Soft red fruit, herbal notes, dry earth. Flavors are somewhat flat. Lacked sufficient balance amongst its constituent parts to warrant a higher score. Suffered from the food pairing given where this wine is in its development. Served with no decant.
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Paris Club dinner with JK (Chicago): This seemed more advanced than the 1961, but exhibited a nice mix of similar flavors and textures, but they were not as precise as the other vintages. Delicious, but this had tough competition tonight.
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While I am a big fan and drinker of Unico, I have not had a '65 for a while, and this was not the greatest vintage of the 60s for Vega Sicilia compared to the giant years of 62, 68, 70. Nonetheless, for a 48 year wine, the nose was not as tired as I would have thought, and it became more and more pleasant to drink over the course of the 3 hours this was opened. Nose of red fruit (redcurrant, raspberry), cinnamon, tobacco, stone, and a hint of vanilla. Flavours were more developed and robust with bigger red fruits (still some fresh strawberries in there) but this one is well past its prime... drink up! Probably got a few years left before it loses what is left of the freshness.
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From memory a week ago. This was very good, and holding up well for its age. I remember a lot of caramel and vanilla vs. what I was expecting, but also good, dark fruit and a reasonable - yet short finish. certainly good for its age, if not up there with great Unicos. Of course, it was a wine I really wanted to like, so may be a little biased. A-
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3/18/2024 - maaike2 wrote: 95 Points
Color: hardly any signs of aging, minimal orange rim. Nose with leather, caramel. Freshness , fruit, tobacco, leather, coffee. A spectacular wine.
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5/21/2023 - Cailles wrote: 97 Points
20 Mature Magnums (mostly Bdx, w/ Unico, Vogue Musigny, Marthas): From magnum. Two Unicos side-by-side. Clear win and my best Unico yet was the 1965 (97pts) which showed me for the first time why people rave about this wine. Like all old Unicos I tasted before, there was just not enough fruit and sweetness but this time, this was compensated by a sweet malty and caramel/toffee core. It tasted like a great old Bordeaux. The 1962 (92pts) showed much less complex, with not enough sweetness and hence a slightly off balance.
TN: A mature nose with dark berries and some malty notes, super fresh with some minerality accents, some caramel. With time so much more coffee and caramel on the nose. Wow. On the palate the same malty notes, some caramel, fresh dark fruit core. As mentioned above, the missing sweetness from the fruit is compensated by the malty notes, the caramel and toffee aromas. Very layered with new nuances popping up with every sip. The same super freshness, lots of tension like the 1962 but without hard edges. Medium length only but overall a great wine and one of the winners of the night.
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5/6/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 97 Points
Magnum Rarities Tasting in Zurich (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): From Magnum: Black coffee, milk chocolate, tobacco and dried herbs emerge first. The fruit includes hints of red berry but mainly presents more dark fruit of plum. The palate is beautifully fresh, adds more aging notes, long finish. This was outstanding and the best bottle of aged Unico to date.
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5/6/2023 - G_H wrote: 96 Points
Annual Richter All-Magnum Extravaganza: Beautiful bootle. Dried bread, plums, espresso, caramel, coffee-yogurt, butter, good mouthfeel and enough fat in the palate to wrap around that elevated acidtiy. Unico at its best.
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9/6/2022 - beatles wrote: 91 Points
A rare treat - as it were - to taste a wine from my terrible birth-year, this is surprisingly good. Mature, certainly
#El Cellar de Can Rocca #JubileTasting
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3/23/2022 - MC wrote:
As old as it is, this still needs 30 minutes of air to show what it has. Dark fruit, a lot of oak and caramel on the finish. Tannins a bit dry at this age but expected. This is well done in the context of a poor vintage but as emotionally attached as I am to the vintage it is not not amongst the best Unico's and the fruit is fading and this started to dry out a bit after an hour. Drink now. A-
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7/30/2021 - jhngo Likes this wine: 97 Points
Leathery aging out nicely.
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7/22/2020 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points
Aged Bordeaux Gems (with Unico/Heitz MV in the mix): Magnum. Top shoulder level. This paled in comparison the 1960 Unico we had in the next glass. It misses expression, fairly muted and too astringent but you could sense that there is much more potential. Would have been great to drink this after 6, 7 hours in the decanter, although I’m not sure if the acidity will ever fully integrate.
TN: Quite singular nose with lots of fresh dark berries and an intense mineral component, just some hints of tobacco and burnt sugar. Muted on the palate with blue fruits peaking through but despite a lot of swirling it remained muted the whole time with just a little bit of sweetness popping up here and there to balance out the very masculine and mineral profile. Not yet very harmonious with still slightly noticeable tannins but especially an acidity which is too high.
Decanting: Double decanted only. Would have needed several hours om the decanter.
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6/27/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: 88 Points
Magnum rarities tasting (Near Basel): This was part of a rarity old wine tasting hosted by a merchant and collector. All (almost) bottles were from magnum and double-decanted. The line-ups was dominated by aged Bordeaux, but also included two vintages of Unico and one from Martha's Vineyard. The undisputed winners were Pichon Lalande 82 and Lynch Bages 82. The most memorable, however, was the Pontet Canet 29 and St Croix Dumonts 21. The Unico (60, 65) were underwhelming as was – once again for me – Mouton 82.
Tasting note:
Double decanted, magnum. A more red berry, raspberry type of fruit and discreet sweet savoury notes. But I couldn't help sensing some soy notes lingering in the background. These became more dominant on the palate where balance gave way to acidity. This couldn't hold its ground to the older but more present 1960.
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6/27/2020 - G_H wrote: 92 Points
Richter magnum tasting, all wines out of Magnum: Toasted bread, espresso, milk coffee, good acidity, rather light but very long
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12/12/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
This was drinking really well. Very good bottle. Lots of black fruits and spices and tobacco and leather and overall everything is nicely integrated. Still tastes a touch tight and young which is amazing given the age. Drinking well.
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11/10/2018 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 94 Points
A savory Unico, notes of forest floor, sweet red fruit and faint leather, medium bodied. No rush at all. The oldest Unico I've had.
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10/24/2018 - mdefreitas wrote:
Vega Sicilia Unicos (Peppercorn's (Hartford, CT)): Good, healthy dark red, with a garnet rim. This one is definitely passed the secondary stage and well onto it tertiary phase. Dried leaves, soy, caramel and a savory quality. A bit of a lactic, milky quality. An interesting wine, but not that enjoyable for me. Others liked it (a lot) more than I. Not rated.
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8/17/2018 - petitblanc wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with José (Hugo's Frog Bar Naperville): Medium-deep ruby color. Classic Único profile, like a savory ruby port reduction. Showing a bit less freshness and fruit than the best bottles, but the elegance is there.
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2/24/2017 - Fatty Cat wrote: 85 Points
Unico tasting (27 different vintages) at the Rheingau Gourmet Festival 2017: the wine looked ruby colored; only a slight smell and taste of black and red berries; the body was medium; medium-strong acidity.
Vintages 2nd flight: 1964-1965-1966-1967-1969
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11/26/2016 - Axelpeter wrote: 99 Points
20(Schm MöglB ); siehe 62er, ähnlich eindrucksvoll, platz 2 bei mir u in Gesamtwertung, nicht ganz so komplex aber kräftiger als 62er...
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1/18/2016 - steinersing wrote: 91 Points
Birth year wine - some iron, some age, but still nice, but fruit is on the way out
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9/18/2015 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 95 Points
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2015/09/vega-sicilia-unico-1965-magnum.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
De color rubí granatoso de capa media-alta, oscuro, tapado. Limpio, brillante, con escatas de precipitado en la base de la botella, algo más de lo que suele ser habitual. Reflejos rojizos y ambarinos. Ribete atejado, marcado respecto al menisco. Cierta sensación de grosor.
Finísimo y compacto, innamovible, sin necesidad de tomar aire para expresarse con mayor intensidad. Se entrega desde el primer momento con un perfil de Único elegantísimo, comparable al magnum de 1962, aunque desprovisto de ese apunte oportizado, licoroso, que los diferencia claramente. Sutil, vaporoso, sacando notas brumosas a especias exóticas, maderas finas, cava de puro y un complejo apunte de fondo a caramelo de violetas y uva pasa. A lo largo de 3 horas se queda amarrado a estos registros y no deja espacio a nada más. Lo dicho: tan delicado como íntegro.
En boca se presenta en plenitud, con una ligera sensación abocada (cremosos) contrarrestada por la acidez. Repleto de fruta fresca, hibiscus, y unos taninos aterciopelados de cine. Incluso más elegante que en boca, sin ninguna arista. Uno de esos Vega Sicilia infalibles, mullidos, que juegan sobre seguro. Se prolonga con suavidad por horas. Pero qué bien le sienta el formato de doble botella a este vino!!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
75% tinto fino, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot y albillo. 13.5% vol.
- Uva procedente únicamente de viñedos propios. Tras finaliza la fermentación alcohólica es trasegado a grandes envases de madera en los que realiza la fermentación maloláctica y se estabiliza durante un mínimo de 5 años. Nuevamente es transvasado para continuar el proceso de maduración en barricas de roble de 225 litros a lo largo de 10 años. Sometido a diversas trasiegas de barrica a barrica. Producción limitada a 91.000 botellas bordelesas y 2.000 magnum.
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8/29/2015 - petitblanc wrote:
Madison Offline 2015; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015: Same youthful garnet color as the other Unicos in the lineup, though shaded more toward chocolate than cherry. Comparatively a bit shy, soft, lacking structure. Still giving great pleasure because of its elegance and soft mouthfeel, but I suspect a slight problem with this bottle as it is so far below expectations. Not scored.
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8/29/2015 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Throwndown in Madtown; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015 (Madison, WI): Another great bottle. This one has less life than the others tries. On the nose, red currants, raspberry, spice, tobacco, and a hint of mineral. On the palate, ripe strawberry, raspberry, currant, tobacco. Finish has nice grip but lacks the acidity of the other vintages.
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3/18/2015 - MC wrote:
Two bottles, and I believe both were from the lot purchased from Spain. These were both great, showing dark fruit, earth, caramel, and a better finish than my last bottle. For many this was the wine of the night, but for me it was outdone by a couple of others - but still outstanding. Not sure how much longer this one can go, but it is a really good wine - maybe great in the context of the vintage. A-
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12/23/2014 - ccpowers wrote:
Special Occasion
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8/20/2014 - dream wrote: 88 Points
A fine, complex nose with notes of mint and kirsch cherries. A bit disjointed on the palate and quite reserved compared to the other older vintages. To me, the fruit is not standing up to the elevated acidity anymore. Near the bottom of the vintages tasted tonight.
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8/14/2014 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Soft red fruit, herbal notes, dry earth. Flavors are somewhat flat. Lacked sufficient balance amongst its constituent parts to warrant a higher score. Suffered from the food pairing given where this wine is in its development. Served with no decant.
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4/6/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 92 Points
Paris Club dinner with JK (Chicago): This seemed more advanced than the 1961, but exhibited a nice mix of similar flavors and textures, but they were not as precise as the other vintages. Delicious, but this had tough competition tonight.
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4/3/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Eight (Not Angry) Men Drinking Great Wine (Paris Club - Chicago IL): Served in flight of 59,60,61,65 Unico. Came across as most ripe, excellent concentration, slightly lower acidity and corresponding textures. Very good, lots of pleasure in this glass.
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4/3/2014 - jlgnml Likes this wine:
Drank in a flight of '59, '60, 61 and '65. Delicious and depending on your style, the flight of the night.
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3/12/2013 - kevincheng Likes this wine: 90 Points
While I am a big fan and drinker of Unico, I have not had a '65 for a while, and this was not the greatest vintage of the 60s for Vega Sicilia compared to the giant years of 62, 68, 70. Nonetheless, for a 48 year wine, the nose was not as tired as I would have thought, and it became more and more pleasant to drink over the course of the 3 hours this was opened. Nose of red fruit (redcurrant, raspberry), cinnamon, tobacco, stone, and a hint of vanilla. Flavours were more developed and robust with bigger red fruits (still some fresh strawberries in there) but this one is well past its prime... drink up! Probably got a few years left before it loses what is left of the freshness.
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1/13/2013 - MC wrote:
From memory a week ago. This was very good, and holding up well for its age. I remember a lot of caramel and vanilla vs. what I was expecting, but also good, dark fruit and a reasonable - yet short finish. certainly good for its age, if not up there with great Unicos. Of course, it was a wine I really wanted to like, so may be a little biased. A-
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10/21/2009 - Rupert wrote: 90 Points
Thirty vintages of Vega Sicilia Único 1953-1999; 10/20/2009-10/21/2009 (Institute of Directors, London): This was tiring a bit, though there was still plenty of fresh cherry fruit. Less tannic than the preceding wines.
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