VEGA SICILIA Unico Gran Reserva 2005 Bottle

Description

Vega Sicilia Único 2005 is a legendary wine that has garnered remarkable acclaim, including 100 points from The Wine Advocate and 97 points from Vinous. This vintage features a blend of 94% Tempranillo and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, showcasing the estate's finest qualities. The wine has an intense bouquet of dark chocolate, black cherry, and leather, complemented by earthy notes that evoke the classic characteristics of a Rhône. Jancis Robinson awarded it 19 points, praising its complexity and alluring depth. Vinous highlights its perfumed red fruit and spicecake flavours, presenting a smooth, velvety texture and well-integrated tannins. Wine Enthusiast rated it 95 points, noting its rich palate. This exceptional wine promises to age beautifully, remaining enjoyable through 2030 and beyond.

*****

JANCIS ROBINSON 19 points
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? (RH)

VINOUS 97 points
Drinking Window 2022 - 2036
From: Spain’s New Releases, Part 2: Triumphs and Travails (May 2017)
(fermented in large oak tanks and aged for six years in new French and American oak barriques) Saturated ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of fresh ripe red fruits, floral oils, pipe tobacco and incense take on sexy vanilla and woodsmoke nuances as the wine opens up. Densely packed yet shockingly lithe on the palate, offering intense cherry liqueur, red currant and spicecake flavors given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows superb energy and clarity, finishing sweet, smoky and extremely long; velvety tannins add gentle grip. - By Josh Raynolds on December 2016

THE WINE ADVOCATE 96 points
Drink Date 2017 - 2030
Neal Martin had already tasted the 2005 Único 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. - Luis Gutiérrez, 2017

VINOUS 95 points
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.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 95 points
Earthy, spicy plum and berry aromas here suggest full ripeness. Tight, scratchy tannins lend the otherwise soft and ripe palate some grip. Lightly oaked flavors of tobacco, dried cherry and raspberry grow more chocolaty and raisiny on the finish. This is an Unico to drink over the next dozen years. — Michael Schachner

DECANTER 94 points
Tasted by: Sarah Jane Evans MW
Drinking Window: 2017 - 2023
Único is the Vega Sicilia classic, famously built to last, but this vintage is remarkably approachable already. Aromas of truffle and forest floor introduce a bright and warm palate of red berry fruits, lifted by a tangerine acidity and a fine, mineral finish. The 12 years of ageing have achieved smooth and supple tannins that are well integrated. This is not destined to be the most long-lived of Únicos, but is full of pleasure now. 94% Tinto Fino, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. This spent six years in French and American oak, both new and used barrels, and 20,000 litre vats.