Vega Sicilia Unico 2015

The 2015 vintage ripened quickly, evenly and exceptionally well. It was essential to harvest the grapes al dente, when they were crisp, fresh and juicy, to avoid over-ripening. This vintage was a special one for Gonzalo Iturriaga. "It was my first at Vega Sicilia," explains the winemaker. "I understood that there is something genuine in the Vega Sicilia estate, because when I taste the grapes I sense the concentration, the power, but also the elegance and silkiness. That's the basis of a great wine. When you taste that concentration, you understand the need for the unique ageing that we do at Vega Sicilia: five years in oak, with a first stage of about one and a half years in barrels to shape the wine, and a second stage of about three and a half years in oak vats to give the wine a whole new dimension.

98 Points - James Suckling

Sit back and enjoy this Unico if you are going to open it now. Exotic spices and touches of balsam and cumin come up after the unleashing of blackberries, chocolate, iron, incense and violets. So fine-grained and polished, with a mouthful of velvety tannins that are so cohesive, close-knit and still reactive. Impeccably structured, it’s vertical before going extremely long and linear. A consistent Unico that seduces with a hint of iron-like minerality and rusticity. Drink on release or hold.

97 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2015 Único comes from a year with a fast ripening, and they had to harvest early to keep the crunchiness of the fruit. This was the first harvest produced 100% by winemaker Gonzalo Iturriaga. The aging was five years in oak, one and a half years in barrels and three and a half years in oak vats. It's a big vintage, produced with 96% Tinto Fino and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's ripe, with 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.88 and 4.8 grams of acidity. The grapes were cooled down for one day, then the bunches were selected and fermented with a pied de cuve in vats. It's a ripe and concentrated vintage, with a classical modern Vega Sicilia nose that's expressive, aromatic and open, with notes of dark cherries, spice and cigar box. It has a medium- to full-bodied palate with abundant fine-grained tannins, good balance and the rustic elegance of the best Ribera del Dueros. In 2015, they produced 84,184 bottles, 3,645 magnums and some larger formats, less than in 2014, which was the largest production of Único ever. It was bottled in May 2021.

96 Points - Wine Spectator

Sit back and enjoy this Unico if you are going to open it now. Exotic spices and touches of balsam and cumin come up after the unleashing of blackberries, chocolate, iron, incense and violets. So fine-grained and polished, with a mouthful of velvety tannins that are so cohesive, close-knit and still reactive. Impeccably structured, it’s vertical before going extremely long and linear. A consistent Unico that seduces with a hint of iron-like minerality and rusticity. Drink on release or hold.