VEGA SICILIA Unico Reserva Especial 2025 Release NV - Ribera del Duero Bottle

Description

Vega Sicilia's NV Único Reserva Especial 2025 Release exemplifies the estate's commitment to quality and craftsmanship, blending wines from the 2011, 2012, and 2013 vintages. Scoring 99 points from James Suckling, it showcases impeccable tannins, complexity, and length, featuring notes of blackberries, subtle balsamic nuances, and high-quality cedar. This plush yet restrained wine unveils abundant tannins in a dissolved state, making it enjoyable now but promising even more with additional aging. The Wine Advocate awards it 98 points, praising its harmonious nose, silky texture, and elegance, while Decanter notes its complexity with fine cedar, rose, and dark fruits alongside a bold, textured mouthfeel. With a total of 18,518 bottles produced, this remarkable release is destined for collectors and enthusiasts alike.

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VEGA SICILIA
Vega Sicilia is a prestigious winery located in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain, recognized as one of the country’s most iconic estates. Founded in 1864, it spans nearly 1,000 hectares, with 210 hectares dedicated to vineyards. The unique terroir features 19 distinct soil types, which contribute to the complexity of its wines, primarily crafted from Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Vega Sicilia is best known for its flagship wine, Unico, which exemplifies the estate’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship. The winery is celebrated for producing elegant, age-worthy wines that reflect depth and balance. With a rich history and exceptional reputation, Vega Sicilia remains a benchmark for fine wine production in Spain, sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

JAMES SUCKLING 99 points
This is a blend of the concentrated and structured 2011, 2013 and 2014 vintages. The wine displays impeccable tannins, complexity and length, feeling remarkably complete due to its aging. Expect notes of blackberries, accompanied by a subtle balsamic nuance and high-quality cedar. The wine remains plush yet restrained and layered, showcasing abundant tannins in a melted, dissolved state. Release in 2026. It already drinks beautifully now but will benefit from additional years of aging in the bottle. Drink on release or hold.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 98 points
Drink Date: 2025 - 2040
The NV Único Reserva Especial 2025 Release was produced with a blend of wines from 2011, 2012 and 2013, with 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.86 and five grams of acidity. It has the core of the 2012, possibly the higher percentage in the blend too, which gives the power and structure with the freshness and tension of 2013, which also provides some balsamic characteristics, and less of the 2011. It has a very harmonious and subtle nose, and the wine shows extra complexity and elegance. It has the Único nose with more nuance and subtleness, but what I liked the most was the silky texture and the elegance of the tannins, as usual combining more developed characteristics with elegance and freshness. This is another stellar release of their non-vintage classical blend, slowly going back to the style of yesteryear. A total of 18,518 bottles and 261 magnums were produced. It was bottled in May 2021.

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Sarah Jane Evans MW
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2035
The bare facts – that this is a blend of Únicos from 2003, 2004 and 2006 – disguise the lovely complexity of the wine. On the nose there is very fine cedar, rose and dark fruits; altogether a very polished elegance. In the mouth, the wine is bold, dense and textured with a note of citrus running through the dark liquorice and spice richness. It needs more time to knit together, but is very promising. Mostly Tinto Fino with a little Cabernet Sauvignon.