1974 Vega Sicilia Unico
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Tasting notes
I have been lucky to drink quite a few bottles of the 1974 Único because I have some good friends from that year, and I have consistently found it very good, one of the hidden-gem vintages in my book. It was produced with 70% Tinto Fino and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with 13.5% alcohol, and the wine spent at least 10 years in oak, larger vats and barrels. The wine is discrete and elegant, not exuberant, but with a lot of power in the palate and very fine tannins. It's quite classical, polished with cedary notes and a silky palate but with power. I wrote, "rock and roll. Led Zeppelin." 63,500 bottles and 2,000 magnums produced. Artwork by Isabel Guerra.
Critic scores
Neal Martin
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
70% Tinto Fino, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Aged for ‘about 2 years’ in large-capacity wooden tank, then 24 months in second-use casks, followed by old casks for up to 6 years. 63,500 bottles and 2,000 magnums. From magnum. Transparent ruby. Spicy and complex on the nose still. Sweet and only just falling apart on the palate. Lots of ageing influence here with the fruit and acidity just starting to go their different ways. Just starting its decline. (JR)
In magnum. I can hardly bear it. This is one of those aromas that makes you instantly smile – the purest, most pleasurable reaction I can think of. Fine meat gravy, a sprig of mint, earth and aniseed. Then blackberry, redcurrant and cedar. This is romantic and gradual, a sonnet compared to Valbuena’s opera. Timeless too – it gives nothing away about its age, the quality of the fruit is still vibrant and creative. (RH)
A blend of 70% Tinto Fino and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, initially, there seems to be a taint on the nose of the 1974, but what seems like corkiness is manifests into an earthy, tarry scent, suggesting the higher presence of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The palate is very well balanced and very pure with greater density of the 1975. Leaving it aside for one hour, it turns into one powerhouse of a wine, with laser-like focus and a vibrant, life-affirming finish with orange zest and liquorice. What began a potentially disappointing Unico, ultimately turns out to be a barnstormer. 63,500 bottles produced. Drink now-2025+. eRobertParker.com.August, 2012
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.