Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Vega Sicilia
Label Name:
 
Unico Collection 1996/2004/2009
Vintage:
 
MIXED
Country:
 
Spain
Region:
 
Ribera del Duero (Castilla y León)
Volume:
 
3x 750ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), Cabernet Sauvignon
Method:
 
Hand-harvested, fermented in vats then long élevage in a mix of large oak tuns and new/used French/American barrels — often a decade+ of combined barrel/tun and bottle aging before release.
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18
Tasting Note:
 
Concentrated black and red fruits (black cherry, plum), cedar, tobacco, leather, violet and mocha; ripe, finely milled tannins, bright acidity and an exceptionally long, mineral-tinged finish.
Food Pairing:
 
Roast lamb, beef ribeye, venison, aged Manchego or cheddar; Asian pairings: Peking duck, char siu (Cantonese BBQ pork), Korean BBQ (bulgogi), miso-glazed black cod or rich umami braises.
Vineyard Info:
 
Vega Sicilia, founded 1864 and owned by the Álvarez family since 1982, farms old Tempranillo (Tinto Fino) vines in clay-limestone soils; Único is the estate flagship made only in top years.
Awards/Ratings:
 
Selected critic scores by vintage — 1996: WA/Neal Martin ~96 (notes of black cherry, tobacco). 2004: Vinous/Josh Raynolds ~96; 2009: Vinous/James Suckling ~98, WS 95. (Representative scores/press)