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Tasting notes
Neal Martin had already tasted the 2005 Unico in 2012, before I joined The Wine Advocate, but then they released 2007 and 2008 before and the 2005 has been kept until now, as they thought the vintage required some more time in bottle. It's mostly Tempranillo with some 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats and aged for almost six years in 225-liter French and American oak barrels and 20,000-liter oak vats. The extra time in bottle has helped the wine to develop its bouquet, and it feels very aromatic and open, with the classical Vega Sicilia perfume of yesteryear, earthy, leafy and spicy, even if they wine was kept because of its power. It's still powerful, but at the same time it's elegant and has a polished mouthfeel and fine-grained tannins. 93,545 bottles, 2,391 magnums, 146 double magnums and six imperials produced. It was bottled in June 2011. Next year they will release the 2006, and the following vintage to be released in 2019, will be 2009. Further than that they don't know, as the only newer vintage in bottle today is 2010 and they are about to bottle 2011 now.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
This has lovely balance and texture, with a smooth and creamy array of blackberries, dried leaves, hazelnuts, praline and cigar box. Medium-to full-bodied with lightly grainy tannins. 94% tempranillo and 6% cabernet sauvignon. Tasted from magnum. Drink or hold.
94% Tinto Fino, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Hot June and July resulted in an early harvest (starting 21 September). Bottled June 2011: 93,553 bottles, 2,391 magnums, 146 double magnums and 6 Impériales. Given an extra 2 years’ ageing in bottle before release. From magnum. Decidedly tight and taut. Lots of dry tannin. Slightly lacking breadth at the moment but there is a rich intensity of fruit density underneath too. Another wine for the future? (JR)
After the relatively understated 2012 and 2011, this pushes all the buttons: intense meatiness, dark chocolate, black cherry, leather, granitic aromas – much like Hermitage? Maybe I refer everything to Rhône … but who cares when it's this good?
About the producer
Vega Sicilia is undoubtably Spain’s most famous winery; a true icon in fine wine with a history dating back to 1864.