2006 Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Único

94% Tinto Fino, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Warm spring led to early flowering, with high temperatures in late August and early September resulting in early ripening. Picked both at the beginning (starting 9 September) and end of September because of rain in the middle. Bottled June 2012: 93,993 bottles, 2,552 magnums, 165 double magnums and 6 Impériales. Bottle-aged for two additional years. From magnum. Dense dark garnet with some evolution at the rim. Now this is a mature nose! With notes of menthol. Dry, appetising, rather majestic finish. Very much a food wine with a slight lack of juice in the middle. Kick of freshness and lift on the mid palate.

Saturated ruby. An amazingly complex array of red and blue fruit preserve, spice and floral scents is accompanied by suggestions of incense, pipe tobacco, coconut and candied licorice. Utterly stains the palate with impressively concentrated yet lively, smoke- and spice-laced cherry compote, blueberry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Sappy and broad on the endless finish, which shows outstanding thrust and dusty tannins that are absorbed by the wine's densely packed fruit.

Saturated ruby. An amazingly complex array of red and blue fruit preserve, spice and floral scents is accompanied by suggestions of incense, pipe tobacco, coconut and candied licorice. Utterly stains the palate with impressively concentrated yet lively, smoke- and spice-laced cherry compote, blueberry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Sappy and broad on the endless finish, which shows outstanding thrust and dusty tannins that are absorbed by the wine's densely packed fruit.