Lovely nose of blackcurrant jam, dark cherry, some fig, raisin and some toasty cedar. Touch of incense. Palate of black currant jam, darker cherries, underripe raspberry/strawberry. Some cedar/oak and toast and jam tertiary notes along with a touch of leather, darker spices and forest floor. Excellent concentration of flavour and terrific balance.
This is in its drinking prime but very vibrant. Does not feel old/musky; still lots of fruit showing. The bottle was perfectly stored with Berry Bros. & Rudd all this time and showing the glories of mature Vega Sicilia tonight. What a treat.
Fantastic. This is still very fruity with some complexity adding secondary notes coming in. Vega-Sicilia's wines, when mature, always have this alluring and indescribable complexity to them and this wine is no different. The fruit is exotic, with oak, and forest floor and things that my Bordeaux/Burgundy/Rhone palate cannot describe. I'm not sure why prior notes are recommending drink by 2023, as this wine is amazing today but seems to have plenty of years to go. I had the 1980 Valbuena double blind last year and it was incredible. Unlike the 2004 Unico which I had a couple years ago and still needed 10 years, this is great to drink now, but no harm in holding either.
Alas, I kept this too long! The cork had more or less crumbled, but vestiges of its greatness nonetheless remained. I am now wondering how long to leave the únicos of the same vintage I have in my cellar
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(Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5°) Dark magenta color; appealing, aromatic, tart currant, savory, tar, roasted black fruit, espresso nose; tasty, roasted black fruit, tar, espresso, pencil lead palate with good acidity; long finish 93+ points
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11/26/2023 - remyworldpeace wrote: 95 Points
Lovely nose of blackcurrant jam, dark cherry, some fig, raisin and some toasty cedar. Touch of incense. Palate of black currant jam, darker cherries, underripe raspberry/strawberry. Some cedar/oak and toast and jam tertiary notes along with a touch of leather, darker spices and forest floor. Excellent concentration of flavour and terrific balance.
This is in its drinking prime but very vibrant. Does not feel old/musky; still lots of fruit showing. The bottle was perfectly stored with Berry Bros. & Rudd all this time and showing the glories of mature Vega Sicilia tonight. What a treat.
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11/12/2023 - ovenmitt wrote: 90 Points
Good not great
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10/3/2023 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent. A bit brown on the rim, nice subtlety with good fruit still showing. Tannins are still present.
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7/3/2023 - Bordeaux_Jon Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic. This is still very fruity with some complexity adding secondary notes coming in. Vega-Sicilia's wines, when mature, always have this alluring and indescribable complexity to them and this wine is no different. The fruit is exotic, with oak, and forest floor and things that my Bordeaux/Burgundy/Rhone palate cannot describe. I'm not sure why prior notes are recommending drink by 2023, as this wine is amazing today but seems to have plenty of years to go. I had the 1980 Valbuena double blind last year and it was incredible. Unlike the 2004 Unico which I had a couple years ago and still needed 10 years, this is great to drink now, but no harm in holding either.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
12/31/2022 - El Tino wrote: flawed
Alas, I kept this too long! The cork had more or less crumbled, but vestiges of its greatness nonetheless remained. I am now wondering how long to leave the únicos of the same vintage I have in my cellar
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)