Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial 750ml

Extremely nuanced and complex nose that shows high-grade cigar box and cigars, fresh blackberries, orange peel, together with red-chili chocolate, walnut, iron and hints of cocoa powder. This is intense, elegant and savory with real finesse, savoriness and complexity. Juicy, dusty and immaculate tannins and an extremely long, savory finish that lasts over a minute. Mainly a blend of 2009 and 2011 and 2012. Surprisingly, this is already approachable now, but better after 2024.

The NV Único Reserva Especial 2022 Release is a blend of wines from 2008, 2010 and 2011, mostly Tinto Fino with some Cabernet Sauvignon mixing lots from the Único wines from those years. In the past, the blend was older vintages, but now it's wines that are around the same age as the Único. It has the complexity of mixing terroirs, vintages and grapes with parameters very similar to Único, 14.5% alcohol and good balance with a pH of 3.83 and 5.4 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter). In the blend, they look for keeping the style of past blends, combining the more aged notes of the older wines and the freshness of the younger ones. I was very pleasantly surprised by the performance of this Reserva Especial, which seems to be going back to the character of the blends from yesteryear, with more finesse, elegance and nuance. This is perfumed, elegant, harmonious and balanced. It has very fine, already polished tannins and integrated acidity. 2008 and 2010 are cooler years, and they seem to give the blend this freshness and elegance. It has all the components, and especially the balance between all of them, to age nicely in bottle.

This is a blend of 2008, 2010 and 2011 and though Iturriaga did not make those vintages, he was the point person on a blending team of five, determining what wines would combine in the most long-lived synergy. The wine centers around a plump texture, racy flavors of fig and bloodorange, and fruit tannins edging from purple to black. Compelling now, it’s built for the ages.

Delivers a gorgeous nose of tobacco, tar, leather and cured meat as a savory skein, which winds through the palate's notes of mulled black cherry, black plum reduction, wild sage and dried flowers. Medium- to full-bodied and plush in texture, this wine is both rich and expressive yet graceful and finely tailored. Tinto Fino with Cabernet Sauvignon. This edition blends the 2008, 2010 and 2011 vintages. Drink now through 2035.