Vega Sicilia, Unico, Ribera del Duero 2009

Some peppery notes showing here, underpinning the black fruit, tar, cedar and nutmeg. Excellent focus, with a medium body and firm, integrated tannins. There is so much focus and tension to the wild dark fruit and dry spice. 94% tempranillo and 6% cabernet sauvignon. Tasted from magnum. 

Drink or hold

2009 was a warm and dry year, but the 2009 Único from Magnum showed very well. It was released ten years after the vintage after the previous years were not released in chronological order. This felt young and energetic, still a little closed but powerful and balanced. As with the 2011, it's "only" 14% alcohol. 3,390 magnums were filled in June 2015. Artwork by Lita Cabellut.

They seem to never stop at Vega Sicilia. The latest development has been to increase the volume they can age in large oak vats to some 40,000 litres so that the ratio of wine to oak can be a little lower as they use more vats and fewer barriques.

I attended a once-in-a-lifetime tasting of all the vintages in magnum from Vega Sicilia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the purchase of the winery by the Álvarez family. It was not a very formal tasting but more of a day of enjoyment and celebration with colleagues from the international press. Food from Celler de Can Roca) was even served during the tasting, so my notes are sometimes very sketchy, but I wanted to take the opportunity to give context to some of the greatest vintages ever mostly 1970 and 1968), tasting all the wines side by side.

Drink 2024 - 2045

Vividly aromatic. For all its 13 years it’s a fruit-forward style with a fine brambly acidity. Very complete, with chocolate, coffee, mineral notes and a firm grip. Overall elegant, long and concentrated. Ready to please now. Last frost on April 23. Diurnal temperature swings of almost 20°C in spring. Healthy development across the summer. 74,274 bottles, 3,390 magnums, 209 double magnums and 22 Imperials. Tasted from magnum.

Drink 2023 - 2045