From the looks of it, this is a very well-stored bottle filled to the top shoulder. I popped and poured the bottle, and from the first snip, there was incredible perfume on the bouquet, surpassing any Unico's I have tried in the past other than 1989. Compared to the older Bordeaux I have had, this has a lot more fruit on the nose and on the palate. It is red fruited not focussed on cedar or smoke like older Bordeaux would be at this stage. It took some time to put on weight in the glass. I drank it for over two hours, and it never seemed that it would fall over. It is a real treat and a testament to the age-ability and finesse that Unico can deliver. That being said, think this would probably have been at peak 10-15 years back. Very much look forward to trying my lone bottle of 1962.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Magnum. Base neck. Ouvert à 10.00 pour une dégustation à 20.00. Robe grenat à reflets brique. Le nez se distingue une fois de plus par la variété de ses arômes, vanille, cacao, chocolat noir, herbes, menthol, même quelques fruits rouges. En bouche, le vin est un peu plus linéaire, plutôt élégant, minéral et avec une bonne acidité. Longueur correcte. Tous mes amis ont pensé avoir affaire à un millésime de la fin des années 80… Remarquable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
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: Dark brooding nose, seems much younger, driven by minerality and a cool dark fruit core. Not sweet. On the palate very fresh and with loads of acidity. Again a cool dark fruit core, herbs, minerality. Not overly complex but quite elegant, even if the acidity is a bit too pronounced and there is not enough sweetness to create a good balance. Good but without exceptionalism.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Magnum Rarities Tasting in Zurich (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): From Magnum: An aroma profile that is dominated by herbal notes, complemented by a bit of chocolate and red berry fruit. Nice so far, but rather narrow. The palate is super fresh with dominant acidity, but somehow this managed to pull it off with appearing too imbalanced. Served next to Unico 1965 and the latter was several leagues better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pale garnet, tawny rim; truffles, warm leather-saddle, gentle spiced, whiff of brambly fruit; soft, vivacious, splendidly fresh, harmonious; elegant finish, lingering. This is on the edge of the downslope.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekend in Westport; 8/25/2021-8/29/2021 (Westport, CT): Whenever thinking about a birth year wine in a difficult year Unico seems to be the answer and this was no different. What surprised me the most is it's still very very young. We opened and double decanted and rebottled for dinner. It continued to open up over the course of a few hours. Just wonderful.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aged Bordeaux Gems (with Unico/Heitz MV in the mix): Magnum. Upper mid shoulder level. Tasted next to the 65, this was miles ahead with an ethereal nose and a slightly less intoxicating palate which seemed still quite young. From large bottles this still needs some more years to full integrated and become smoother, yet it is already great today. The nose was easily on a 97/98 level. The palate rather on a 93/94 level but as said, with some upside in the future.
TN: Fabulous bouquet with lots of silky dark fruit, burnt sugar, toast and herbal notes all delivered with high precision. Lots of fine, fresh, ripe dark berries, more herbs and rocks, a few little tertiary notes appearing, with time more sweet and molasses. Quite layered, yet on the palate still a bit muted. A wall of tannins framed by a slightly high and noticeable acidity. This needs more time.
Decanting: Double decanted only. Good from the go but would have been better with one or the other hour in the decanter.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
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. Intense nose, ripe red and dark berries, refreshing green herbs, burned wood and char coal mineral notes, sweet flavours and a bit of floral, perfumed aromas too. Heavy palate with power and muscle, although in terms of aromatics some signs of fatigue, in my view. But this aside, more present, more savoury and more intense than the 1965 next to it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birth year wine - from a really tough vintage, but Unico comes through. Really special treat to be able to toast the birthday boy with a wine of the same age. This is all secondary, leather, dried leaves, forest floor with mature red fruit, acidity is quite bright.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Celebrating 60 (The NoMad): This producer is just pure consistency. Not the easiest birth year to buy for and I think when that is the case it's also almost always the case that Unico is a safe bet. In a nice drinking window where it's more open and spicy and red fruits and overall quite enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted 6 hrs before serving. A complex nose with plum, ink, earth, tobacco, barnyard, funk, iron, blood and prune. Palate had vivid acidity and dark fruit, drinking probably 10-12 years younger than its age especially when it was double decanted. Towards the middle of the dinner, the wine started dropping. I would decant it for 2 hours in the decanter to serve next time. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
georgous wine - 3 hours decant -- very youthful - dark colour -- unbelievable that this bottle has an age of 57 -- what a nose - vega sicilia needs decades to hit the peak - wonderful cherry and black raspberry notes -- minty - a nearly perfect one
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fading fruit and acid in this bottle. However nice soil tones. Without sufficient remaining underlying structure this bottle was gracious with what it had and attractive in its subtlety but ultimately somewhat underwhelming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unico tasting (27 different vintages) at the Rheingau Gourmet Festival 2017: a young, clear ruby colour; weak nose revealed only hints of red berries and coffee; in the mouth red and dark berries; medium body and polished texture.
Medium garnet yellowish rim. Solid dark red fruits core with some cherry and plum note, savoury, leather, smoky, raisin, dried floral. On palate, light weight but good concentration and acidity, uplifting ripe red fruits with tar, smoky and nutty flavour. Linear and long.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Madison Offline 2015; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015: Second time tasting this wine, second time it is very near perfection, standing out even in a lineup of great Unicos. Crazy youthful color, appealing nose that draws you in, perfect balance, terrific length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Throwndown in Madtown; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015 (Madison, WI): Single blind. This was a great bottle. Impossibly young ruby color. Nose of black raspberry, raspberry, camphor, mint, dirt, and spicy oak. On the palate, dense, yet it danced in the mouth with palate repeating the nose. Long finish with plenty of grip and perfect balance. A wine for the ages and the best of wine of the weekend for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
It's amazing to find wines this age and so young, vibrant, still in place. Medium garnet colour, medium + intensity nose with dried fruits, balsamic, tabacco and tea leaf. Medium palate still very balanced and in place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A quick note about the first wine I've had that's older then me! Had this bottle along side an '89, '94 and a '99 Vega Sicilica Unico. The 1960 was hands down the most unique of the four, on both the nose and palate.
Initial nose was a sort of burned graham cracker / s'mores flavor profile. This transitioned into a chocolate / coffee sugar wafer cookie nose (the kind with frosting in between the wafers). The nose was much more pronounced that the palate and it was the nose where everyone at the dinner table found this wine to show it's uniqueness. One of the most interesting and surprising wines I've had in a long time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2014/10/vega-sicilia-unico-1960-magnum.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Botella en excelentes condiciones. Nivel alto, expléndido color y un corcho casi sin manchar, de calidad. Veamos: de color cereza granatoso de capa media-alta, con mucha extracción, tapado, extraordinariamente limpio. Cuesta creer la edad que tiene. Reflejos grandinos y anaranjados, brillante. Ribete cobrizo, marcado respecto al menisco.
Este vino impone!! Serio, limpio, recio, sin excesos reductivos ni pirotecnica innecesaria, de enorme pureza, como lo eran hace años los grandes Vega Sicilia. Inicialmente hay aromas de muy buena intensidad pero sobre todo de una solidez y profundidad abrumadora. Complejo, con una finísima veta mineral y terrosos que lo van llenando todo. Hay frutos negros, zarzamora, grosella negra y un etéreo hilo balsámico a hiedra y hojas de laurel. Muy hermoso. No te cansas de olerlo.
En boca es de equilibrio total. Sedoso, pulidísimo, equilibrado en todo pero sin dejar de ser un vino concentrado y envolvente. Quién diría que estamos ante un vino con 54 años de vida!! Hay fruta negra de la mejor y un tostado que vertebra el conjunto. Sobrado de vida y acidez. Otro magnum de la mejor época de Vega Sicilia que hemos tenido la grandisima suerte de beber con auténtica codicia. Estas dobles botellas son los mejores vehículos para que los vinos transiten durante años y años sin apenas desgaste. Junto al Único de 1962 forma una dupla insuperable que no se volverá a repetir. Quizás éste sea algo más austero y menos jugoso en boca pero tiene una clase que muy pocos vinos pueden alcanzar. Ni se sabe la de años que seguirá así. Vino casi eterno!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 70% tinto fino, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 10% malbec y merlot - 13.5% vol. Después de la fermentación alcohólica realiza la fermentación maloláctica en grandes envases de madera, donde permanece durante 5 años. A continuación, pasó 10 años en barrica de roble de 225 litros. El resto, en botella, hasta su comercialización. Producción limitada a 63.000 botellas de 75 cl. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aged Rioja's and a Ribera (NYC): Incredibly youthful. By looking and tasting you could think it was 10-15 years old. A remarkable wine. Powerful. Full. a long finish. At 54 years old, this is its youth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A very special bottle tasted alongside some heavyweight competition. Opened and decanted in the bottle for 4-5 hours. Slight browning in the red color. Some dust in the nose reflecting the age. Dark rich fruit, dust and a bit of rubber on the palate. Outstanding stuff. A real pleasure to have tried.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A fabulous older vintage of Unico. Still vivacious but possesses perfectly mature flavors of tobacco, figs and strawberries. A bit rustic but also elegant and oh so complex on the finish. This also has that wonderful olive-oil like texture that these wines seem to develop when fully mature. In a great spot tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Fine enough nose with earth, tobacco, savory herb and faint fruit. Finish was somewhat astringent and I found the overall palate thin. I was in the minority in not particularly liking this tonight. No decant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Paris Club dinner with JK (Chicago): Less expressive on the nose than the 1959 but still showing off great dark fruit, very slight cedar and coffee. More of the same on the palate which was fat in the middle, but fell off on the finish. Great silky texture.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind, this wine had a purple/red center with light red/orange rims. The high- intensity nose offered up mocha, cherries, cloves, and soil.
In the mouth, this wine was very rich and ripe. In fact, it was so ripe that I thought it was a bit monolithic. It did have some interesting flavors, decent acidity, and good length.
This was an interesting wine but the over-ripe element made it a bit one dimensional in the mouth which was a negative for me. Drink'em if you got'em.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
was lucky to try a glass of this Spanish wine in a wine tasting session paired with traditional Spanish food prepared by a Spanish chef in a Spanish restaurant (yes, all Spanish!). After the cork was removed properly, the wine was allowed to breathe in the glass. Initially, it was just plain boring and uninteresting. However, after an hour or so, this oldie came back to life with toffee and lavender in the elegant fruity nose. the palate was silky, velvety, and fruity; quite enjoyable to drink. Unfortunately due to the time constraint of the tasting session, had to finish the entire glass in another hour and was unable to give it more time to evolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Venerable old Vega Sicilia with an oxidative nose with tones of coffee, plummy fruit and spice. Palate is smooth and silky with finesse reminiscent of a Bordeaux wine of similar calibre and age. Tannins are melted and acidty is high balancing the fruit very well. Despite the oxidation in the nose at 52 it holds very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The cork collapsed on our attempt to open this, but fortunately we managed to remove it. Med-dark brick with brown hues. Signs of oxidation, intense coffee, leather and dark fruits on the nose. On the palate it was by far more enjoyable than what we were expecting given the oxidation on the nose, with a silky texture, mouthfilling fruit and high acidity. Long aftertaste. Very enjoyable in its own right, despite the oxidation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We remove the cork about an hr before and splash decanted & served - an incredible bottle that showed mature smoky tertiary notes and very soft but complex flavors. It's hard to describe this wine but at this point it was all about the texture (very silky) and elegance. It continued to change in the glass and was a the top of it's game for a period of a good 1/2 hr. Old Vegas can be magical and this bottle was a great one -was it better 10-15 years ago probably but the experience was great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Birthday Dinner (Inovasi - Lake Bluff IL): Aromas of dried rose petals with Rainier cherry complemented by charming mature aromas. Same red cherry and earthy flavors with some licorice on palate. At its peak today, precise and persistent, but just moderate power and length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Celebration Dinner (Inovasi, Lake Bluff, IL): Dried red berries and plum on both the nose and palate, with bits of rose petal. Some traces of oak. Moderate intensity on the palate and finish. A solid wine and completely ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great clean color, opened up with time. Quiet. Subdued flavor and because this wine is Vega, did not have the traditional flavors associated with predominate flavors of Burgandy or Bordeaux. This was simply awesome to drink, food friendly, and got better in the glass. Glad I shared it with my son.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An Evening of Vega Sicilia Unico. (Post House.): An ephemeral wine. I apparently missed the really good showing in the first ten minutes as I left the wine in the glass. When I got to it, there wasn't much to the wine, though a little more air resuscitated it somewhat. Tart red fruit aromas and flavors with light caramelized notes and worn, old wooden banister. The cherry fruit has largely departed, but what's there does have a pretty, yet fragile character to it. Turns quite drying and earthy/leathery on the finish. Not much life left. Low B-.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
ON OPENING A BIT EFFERVESCENT AND TART ON THE FINISH BUT TURNED EXTREMELY SOFT ON THE FINISH WITH FIGS, BLACK CHERRIES, AND WOOD IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/16/2024 - Dibbs Likes this wine: 95 Points
From the looks of it, this is a very well-stored bottle filled to the top shoulder. I popped and poured the bottle, and from the first snip, there was incredible perfume on the bouquet, surpassing any Unico's I have tried in the past other than 1989. Compared to the older Bordeaux I have had, this has a lot more fruit on the nose and on the palate. It is red fruited not focussed on cedar or smoke like older Bordeaux would be at this stage. It took some time to put on weight in the glass. I drank it for over two hours, and it never seemed that it would fall over. It is a real treat and a testament to the age-ability and finesse that Unico can deliver. That being said, think this would probably have been at peak 10-15 years back. Very much look forward to trying my lone bottle of 1962.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2023 - UPL Likes this wine: 98 Points
a beauty -- the nose... black fruits -- minty - long aftertaste
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2023 - Ericsson wrote: 96 Points
Magnum. Base neck. Ouvert à 10.00 pour une dégustation à 20.00. Robe grenat à reflets brique.
Le nez se distingue une fois de plus par la variété de ses arômes, vanille, cacao, chocolat noir, herbes, menthol, même quelques fruits rouges.
En bouche, le vin est un peu plus linéaire, plutôt élégant, minéral et avec une bonne acidité.
Longueur correcte.
Tous mes amis ont pensé avoir affaire à un millésime de la fin des années 80…
Remarquable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2023 - Cailles wrote: 92 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: Dark brooding nose, seems much younger, driven by minerality and a cool dark fruit core. Not sweet. On the palate very fresh and with loads of acidity. Again a cool dark fruit core, herbs, minerality. Not overly complex but quite elegant, even if the acidity is a bit too pronounced and there is not enough sweetness to create a good balance. Good but without exceptionalism.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 92 Points
Magnum Rarities Tasting in Zurich (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): From Magnum: An aroma profile that is dominated by herbal notes, complemented by a bit of chocolate and red berry fruit. Nice so far, but rather narrow. The palate is super fresh with dominant acidity, but somehow this managed to pull it off with appearing too imbalanced. Served next to Unico 1965 and the latter was several leagues better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/6/2023 - G_H wrote: 92 Points
Annual Richter All-Magnum Extravaganza: After a couplle of bottles that were showing a bit off, finally a very clean and good bottle.
Grape jelly with mixed fruit, but a fairly simple nose, lacking complexity. Feels quite young with a light boddy and a VS-typical intense acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2022 - beatles wrote: 91 Points
Still lively with fresh herbs, darker spices
#El Cellar de Can Rocca #JubileTasting
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2022 - chbeaumont wrote: 97 Points
Pale garnet, tawny rim; truffles, warm leather-saddle, gentle spiced, whiff of brambly fruit; soft, vivacious, splendidly fresh, harmonious; elegant finish, lingering. This is on the edge of the downslope.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Weekend in Westport; 8/25/2021-8/29/2021 (Westport, CT): Whenever thinking about a birth year wine in a difficult year Unico seems to be the answer and this was no different. What surprised me the most is it's still very very young. We opened and double decanted and rebottled for dinner. It continued to open up over the course of a few hours. Just wonderful.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/17/2020 - Lype Likes this wine:
Furniture polish and wood tones, the typical tar and smoke are there too, many liked this but to me the 1962 and 1953 in the same flight were better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2020 - Cailles wrote: 96 Points
Aged Bordeaux Gems (with Unico/Heitz MV in the mix): Magnum. Upper mid shoulder level. Tasted next to the 65, this was miles ahead with an ethereal nose and a slightly less intoxicating palate which seemed still quite young. From large bottles this still needs some more years to full integrated and become smoother, yet it is already great today. The nose was easily on a 97/98 level. The palate rather on a 93/94 level but as said, with some upside in the future.
TN: Fabulous bouquet with lots of silky dark fruit, burnt sugar, toast and herbal notes all delivered with high precision. Lots of fine, fresh, ripe dark berries, more herbs and rocks, a few little tertiary notes appearing, with time more sweet and molasses. Quite layered, yet on the palate still a bit muted. A wall of tannins framed by a slightly high and noticeable acidity. This needs more time.
Decanting: Double decanted only. Good from the go but would have been better with one or the other hour in the decanter.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2020 - sirpat00 wrote: 92 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. Intense nose, ripe red and dark berries, refreshing green herbs, burned wood and char coal mineral notes, sweet flavours and a bit of floral, perfumed aromas too. Heavy palate with power and muscle, although in terms of aromatics some signs of fatigue, in my view. But this aside, more present, more savoury and more intense than the 1965 next to it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2020 - RayOB wrote: flawed
Sadly gone
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/27/2020 - G_H wrote: 95 Points
Richter magnum tasting, all wines out of Magnum: Cherry yogurt, espresso, toasted bread, caramel, creamy, quite intense acidity but well integrated and a very long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2020 - retired_and_roving Likes this wine:
Birth year wine - from a really tough vintage, but Unico comes through. Really special treat to be able to toast the birthday boy with a wine of the same age. This is all secondary, leather, dried leaves, forest floor with mature red fruit, acidity is quite bright.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Celebrating 60 (The NoMad): This producer is just pure consistency. Not the easiest birth year to buy for and I think when that is the case it's also almost always the case that Unico is a safe bet. In a nice drinking window where it's more open and spicy and red fruits and overall quite enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2019 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Attractive. Ample fruit remains.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2019 - LB88 wrote: 92 Points
Nice wine and given some hours of air drinking quite well but not quite the power of a TOP notch Vega
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2017 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted 6 hrs before serving. A complex nose with plum, ink, earth, tobacco, barnyard, funk, iron, blood and prune. Palate had vivid acidity and dark fruit, drinking probably 10-12 years younger than its age especially when it was double decanted. Towards the middle of the dinner, the wine started dropping. I would decant it for 2 hours in the decanter to serve next time. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/3/2017 - UPL Likes this wine: 98 Points
georgous wine - 3 hours decant -- very youthful - dark colour -- unbelievable that this bottle has an age of 57 -- what a nose - vega sicilia needs decades to hit the peak - wonderful cherry and black raspberry notes -- minty - a nearly perfect one
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2017 - G_H wrote: 92 Points
Farnsburg Rarities: Out of magnum: felt much younger, stuffing, dried bread, pleasant but not spectacular
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2017 - tinybubbles wrote: 88 Points
Fading fruit and acid in this bottle. However nice soil tones. Without sufficient remaining underlying structure this bottle was gracious with what it had and attractive in its subtlety but ultimately somewhat underwhelming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/24/2017 - Fatty Cat wrote: 88 Points
Unico tasting (27 different vintages) at the Rheingau Gourmet Festival 2017: a young, clear ruby colour; weak nose revealed only hints of red berries and coffee; in the mouth red and dark berries; medium body and polished texture.
Vintages 3rd flight: 1922-1940-1942-1953-1960-1961-1962
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2016 - Corgi wrote: 96 Points
Pure and balanced. An amazing wine...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/19/2016 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium garnet yellowish rim. Solid dark red fruits core with some cherry and plum note, savoury, leather, smoky, raisin, dried floral. On palate, light weight but good concentration and acidity, uplifting ripe red fruits with tar, smoky and nutty flavour. Linear and long.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2015 - petitblanc wrote: 97 Points
Madison Offline 2015; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015: Second time tasting this wine, second time it is very near perfection, standing out even in a lineup of great Unicos. Crazy youthful color, appealing nose that draws you in, perfect balance, terrific length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/29/2015 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 97 Points
Throwndown in Madtown; 8/27/2015-8/29/2015 (Madison, WI): Single blind. This was a great bottle. Impossibly young ruby color. Nose of black raspberry, raspberry, camphor, mint, dirt, and spicy oak. On the palate, dense, yet it danced in the mouth with palate repeating the nose. Long finish with plenty of grip and perfect balance. A wine for the ages and the best of wine of the weekend for me.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2015 - RaphaelMalago wrote: 90 Points
It's amazing to find wines this age and so young, vibrant, still in place. Medium garnet colour, medium + intensity nose with dried fruits, balsamic, tabacco and tea leaf. Medium palate still very balanced and in place.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/24/2014 - wythes Likes this wine: 94 Points
A quick note about the first wine I've had that's older then me! Had this bottle along side an '89, '94 and a '99 Vega Sicilica Unico. The 1960 was hands down the most unique of the four, on both the nose and palate.
Initial nose was a sort of burned graham cracker / s'mores flavor profile. This transitioned into a chocolate / coffee sugar wafer cookie nose (the kind with frosting in between the wafers). The nose was much more pronounced that the palate and it was the nose where everyone at the dinner table found this wine to show it's uniqueness. One of the most interesting and surprising wines I've had in a long time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2014 - Los 12 Glotones Likes this wine: 97 Points
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Els12golafres Wine Tasting Group: http://vinosclasicos.blogspot.com.es/2014/10/vega-sicilia-unico-1960-magnum.html
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Botella en excelentes condiciones. Nivel alto, expléndido color y un corcho casi sin manchar, de calidad. Veamos: de color cereza granatoso de capa media-alta, con mucha extracción, tapado, extraordinariamente limpio. Cuesta creer la edad que tiene. Reflejos grandinos y anaranjados, brillante. Ribete cobrizo, marcado respecto al menisco.
Este vino impone!! Serio, limpio, recio, sin excesos reductivos ni pirotecnica innecesaria, de enorme pureza, como lo eran hace años los grandes Vega Sicilia. Inicialmente hay aromas de muy buena intensidad pero sobre todo de una solidez y profundidad abrumadora. Complejo, con una finísima veta mineral y terrosos que lo van llenando todo. Hay frutos negros, zarzamora, grosella negra y un etéreo hilo balsámico a hiedra y hojas de laurel. Muy hermoso. No te cansas de olerlo.
En boca es de equilibrio total. Sedoso, pulidísimo, equilibrado en todo pero sin dejar de ser un vino concentrado y envolvente. Quién diría que estamos ante un vino con 54 años de vida!! Hay fruta negra de la mejor y un tostado que vertebra el conjunto. Sobrado de vida y acidez. Otro magnum de la mejor época de Vega Sicilia que hemos tenido la grandisima suerte de beber con auténtica codicia. Estas dobles botellas son los mejores vehículos para que los vinos transiten durante años y años sin apenas desgaste. Junto al Único de 1962 forma una dupla insuperable que no se volverá a repetir. Quizás éste sea algo más austero y menos jugoso en boca pero tiene una clase que muy pocos vinos pueden alcanzar. Ni se sabe la de años que seguirá así. Vino casi eterno!!
- - - Wine Info - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
70% tinto fino, 20% cabernet sauvignon, 10% malbec y merlot - 13.5% vol.
Después de la fermentación alcohólica realiza la fermentación maloláctica en grandes envases de madera, donde permanece durante 5 años. A continuación, pasó 10 años en barrica de roble de 225 litros. El resto, en botella, hasta su comercialización. Producción limitada a 63.000 botellas de 75 cl.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2014 - cadams wrote: 93 Points
deep red slight bricking at the edge
red fruits, raisin, still holding strong, very smooth, light red fruit profile, long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/7/2014 - lolo66 wrote: 95 Points
Aged Rioja's and a Ribera (NYC): Incredibly youthful. By looking and tasting you could think it was 10-15 years old. A remarkable wine. Powerful. Full. a long finish. At 54 years old, this is its youth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2014 - petitblanc wrote: 95 Points
Old Wine Offline; 9/26/2014-9/27/2014 (The Room Off the Patio at Ruth's Chris, and My House): Medium-dark cherry-garnet color. Dark berries, oak, slightly medicinal red fruit, earth, eucalyptus, a bit tawny, reminiscent of a middle-aged Grange. Perfect balance, weightless. Great wine, maybe the wine of the weekend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2014 - Oskiwawa wrote: 95 Points
A very special bottle tasted alongside some heavyweight competition. Opened and decanted in the bottle for 4-5 hours. Slight browning in the red color. Some dust in the nose reflecting the age. Dark rich fruit, dust and a bit of rubber on the palate. Outstanding stuff. A real pleasure to have tried.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2014 - dream Likes this wine: 96 Points
A fabulous older vintage of Unico. Still vivacious but possesses perfectly mature flavors of tobacco, figs and strawberries. A bit rustic but also elegant and oh so complex on the finish. This also has that wonderful olive-oil like texture that these wines seem to develop when fully mature. In a great spot tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2014 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fine enough nose with earth, tobacco, savory herb and faint fruit. Finish was somewhat astringent and I found the overall palate thin. I was in the minority in not particularly liking this tonight. No decant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2014 - johnh1001 wrote: 93 Points
Paris Club dinner with JK (Chicago): Less expressive on the nose than the 1959 but still showing off great dark fruit, very slight cedar and coffee. More of the same on the palate which was fat in the middle, but fell off on the finish. Great silky texture.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Eight (Not Angry) Men Drinking Great Wine (Paris Club - Chicago IL): In flight of 59,60,61, 65 Unico. Intense black fruit, emerging mature character, lots of clove and dark roast coffee. Impressive concentration.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2013 - fclarity wrote: 93 Points
Tasted blind, this wine had a purple/red center with light red/orange rims. The high- intensity nose offered up mocha, cherries, cloves, and soil.
In the mouth, this wine was very rich and ripe. In fact, it was so ripe that I thought it was a bit monolithic. It did have some interesting flavors, decent acidity, and good length.
This was an interesting wine but the over-ripe element made it a bit one dimensional in the mouth which was a negative for me. Drink'em if you got'em.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/28/2013 - Larry&Ron Likes this wine: 98 Points
Paired with lamb loin, it was a meal in itself. Needed no time to breathe, but I did decant it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2012 - CWang wrote: 93 Points
was lucky to try a glass of this Spanish wine in a wine tasting session paired with traditional Spanish food prepared by a Spanish chef in a Spanish restaurant (yes, all Spanish!). After the cork was removed properly, the wine was allowed to breathe in the glass. Initially, it was just plain boring and uninteresting. However, after an hour or so, this oldie came back to life with toffee and lavender in the elegant fruity nose. the palate was silky, velvety, and fruity; quite enjoyable to drink. Unfortunately due to the time constraint of the tasting session, had to finish the entire glass in another hour and was unable to give it more time to evolve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/30/2012 - Stefanos T. wrote: 92 Points
Venerable old Vega Sicilia with an oxidative nose with tones of coffee, plummy fruit and spice. Palate is smooth and silky with finesse reminiscent of a Bordeaux wine of similar calibre and age. Tannins are melted and acidty is high balancing the fruit very well. Despite the oxidation in the nose at 52 it holds very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/29/2012 - Yiannis wrote: 90 Points
The cork collapsed on our attempt to open this, but fortunately we managed to remove it. Med-dark brick with brown hues. Signs of oxidation, intense coffee, leather and dark fruits on the nose. On the palate it was by far more enjoyable than what we were expecting given the oxidation on the nose, with a silky texture, mouthfilling fruit and high acidity. Long aftertaste. Very enjoyable in its own right, despite the oxidation.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 88 Points
Roland's boys dinner (Strip House): notes of dried or petals and red berries. didn't enjoy the lean finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2011 - Le Musigny wrote: flawed
Corked
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/25/2011 - bon vivant wrote:
We remove the cork about an hr before and splash decanted & served - an incredible bottle that showed mature smoky tertiary notes and very soft but complex flavors. It's hard to describe this wine but at this point it was all about the texture (very silky) and elegance. It continued to change in the glass and was a the top of it's game for a period of a good 1/2 hr. Old Vegas can be magical and this bottle was a great one -was it better 10-15 years ago probably but the experience was great!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2010 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Birthday Dinner (Inovasi - Lake Bluff IL): Aromas of dried rose petals with Rainier cherry complemented by charming mature aromas. Same red cherry and earthy flavors with some licorice on palate. At its peak today, precise and persistent, but just moderate power and length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2010 - MatthewF wrote:
Celebration Dinner (Inovasi, Lake Bluff, IL): Dried red berries and plum on both the nose and palate, with bits of rose petal. Some traces of oak. Moderate intensity on the palate and finish. A solid wine and completely ready to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2010 - pvpapa wrote: 95 Points
Great clean color, opened up with time. Quiet. Subdued flavor and because this wine is Vega, did not have the traditional flavors associated with predominate flavors of Burgandy or Bordeaux. This was simply awesome to drink, food friendly, and got better in the glass. Glad I shared it with my son.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2006 - BradKNYC wrote:
An Evening of Vega Sicilia Unico. (Post House.): An ephemeral wine. I apparently missed the really good showing in the first ten minutes as I left the wine in the glass. When I got to it, there wasn't much to the wine, though a little more air resuscitated it somewhat. Tart red fruit aromas and flavors with light caramelized notes and worn, old wooden banister. The cherry fruit has largely departed, but what's there does have a pretty, yet fragile character to it. Turns quite drying and earthy/leathery on the finish. Not much life left. Low B-.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2002 - buckeye76 wrote: 93 Points
ON OPENING A BIT EFFERVESCENT AND TART ON THE FINISH BUT TURNED EXTREMELY SOFT ON THE FINISH WITH FIGS, BLACK CHERRIES, AND WOOD IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR. LONG FINISH.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment