NV Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único Reserva Especial 1985, 1990, 1991 (2003 Release)

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 93.6 points

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  9/11/2023 - Cailles wrote: 92 Points

  Vega Sicilia Unico Vertical: 10x Vega Sicilia Unico (1985-2006). 7 vintages of Gran Reserva, 3x Reserva Especial. A few conclusions: A) The quality was high in all bottles. Increased complexity and precision, a fine structural framework with silky tannins, pronounced acidity and very good balance. B) The family resemblance across all bottles is high. Unico has a strong and unique DNA with the freshness and tension of a good Bordeaux combined with the softness and silkiness of Tempranillo and a unique flavor profile with lots of fresh blueberries, garrigue, bacon and gentle coffee notes. C) Maturity was well controlled, even in hot years. No hint of over-ripeness. D) The wines are meant to age and certainly need almost 20 years before reaching a first drinking window. The 30 year old bottles seemed young and only the 40 year old ones showed tertiary aromas. E) The quality was high across the board with no weak bottles, but the best wines were the tertiary 1985 (96pts), 1986 (97pts) and 1987 (95pts). The 2006 (95pts) is very promising.
  
  TN: Umami and dark fruit on the nose. Sweet datk fruit comes to the fore with a bit of swirling but also some soy sauce notes. On the palate the same blue/black fruit, very fresh fruit. The nose already foreshadowed that this bottle was past its peak. It has no longer the same structural integrity as the other vintages. Maybe a bad cork or just a weaker vintage but what was underneath, was quite spectacular. 91/92pts for everything that is underneath.
  
  Decanting: A quick double decant, then the wine rested back in the bottle without cork for roughly five to six hours. No decant needed.

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  2/20/2023 - fclarity wrote: 93 Points

  Tasted blind, this wine had a purple center and deep red rims. The medium intensity nose generated blueberry, cherry, mocha, and soil notes.
  
  In the mouth, this wine was very rich and ripe with substantial tannin, big acidity, and huge length. While the attack was fruit oriented, the finish was serious and dry.
  
  This wine seemed very young and one wonders how long, or if, it will take to come into balance. My guess is it will but I am not sure I would like to bet on it.

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  12/25/2020 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 94 Points

  Very dark, maturing garnet.
  Very elegant nose, with some plum and blackberry to the fore, underlain with prunes, tobacco and a touch of vanilla oak.
  Very classy palate. Initially feels like a 40-50 year old claret, but then there's a brightness of fruit and general vivacity. The flavours just come layer after layer, all the time remainig really classy feeling and elegant. Fine tannic structure develops towards the finish. Huge length.

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  8/31/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points

  Blind "Grand Cru" with Lobster & Flannery Steak (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Served double blind to tonight's tasting group. Lots of black with a complex array of both sweet and savory spice. Good weight with dancing textures, helping toward a bright, long finish. So good now, but probably still upside from here.

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  8/31/2019 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points

  Double blind. I guessed new world given the oak, but it was quite clearly Spain when told old world. This has an incredible amount of youthful, bright cherry fruit and well-integrated but still obvious American Oak. Delicious herb and spice laced throughout. Still a baby. A testament to how well these multi-vintage Unicos age and show.

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