VEGA SICILIA

Silky and dense, this red delivers focused flavors of currant, licorice, tobacco and mineral, supported by well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity. Not showy, but has depth. Lithe and energetic. Drinking range: 2018 - 2021 Rating: 94 Thomas Matthews, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2018)

The iconic wine from Vega Sicilia in the market in 2018 is the 2006 Único, which was released after the sale of the 2007 and 2008 vintages because they thought it needed more time in bottle. 2006 was an early vintage, with the harvest beginning the 9th of September. This year the bottled blend is 94% Tinto Fino, the local strain of Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, with 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has a long élevage, around ten years split between new and old barriques (French and American), in 20,000-liter oak vats and bottle. It had a very developed and classical nose, very expressive, ripe and exuberant with an herbal twist, combining classical and modern characteristics and with a good balance between youth and development. It's a more classical expression of the Vega Sicilia character, closer to the wines from yesteryear than the last few vintages. It has to be one of the best recent vintages of Único, for me clearly better than 2005. This 2006 was bottled in June 2012. 93,993 bottles, 2,552 magnums, 165 double magnums and six imperials were produced. In 2019 they will release the 2009. Drinking range: 2018 - 2021 Rating: 98 Luis Gutierrez, www.robertparker.com (Jan 2018)

Incredibly floral and beautiful with dark berry, spice, cedar and mint. Chinese plums. Asian spices. Bark. Tea. Full body, dense and so soft and complex. The finish goes on for minutes. Endless and fine. January 2017 release. This reminds me of the gorgeous 1991 or 1964. Drink forever. A wine that you want to spend time with. Rating: 100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Jul 2017)