Vega Sicilia, Unico, Ribera del Duero 2011

95% Tempranillo and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Intensity and concentration mark this, with a deep core of hazelnuts, ripe blackberries, praline, chocolate orange and some iron. It’s full-bodied with very finely textured yet muscular tannins. Well framed. Tasted from magnum. 

Drinkable now, but with a long future ahead.

Deep, shimmering ruby. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla, pipe tobacco, exotic spices, cola and potpourri. Deeply concentrated and energetic on the palate, it offers smoke-laced black currant, cherry liqueur, spice cake, and mocha flavours that display outstanding clarity and pick up a candied violet nuance on the back half. Polished, steadily building tannins frame the finish, which hangs on with outstanding mineral- and floral-driven tenacity.

Drink 2025 - 2036

Vibrant primary aromas of roses, oranges and fresh herbs lead into a wine full of redcurrant freshness. While 2011 is a more concentrated vintage, the wine is impressively elegant and delicate. It can be enjoyed soon for its structure, yet it will undoubtedly improve with age.

Drink 2025 - 2045

The 2011 Único ended up among my least favourite vintages of recent times, at least the magnum I tasted and in comparison with the 2013 and 2009 and even the 2007 a very challenging vintage that showed better). Despite the warm year which they have always said they found cooler than 2010), the wine is "only" 14% alcohol, which is quite moderate for the last few years when the wines routinely reach 14.5%. I found the wine quite tannic and lacking the charm I expected in this cuvée. Perhaps with more time? 

The grapes were picked relatively early, between September 15th and 28th. 3,505 magnums were filled in June 2017.

Drink now until 2033