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Tasting notes
Normal vintage. Started Oct 10 and had to stop on Oct 12 because of rain. Others kept picking. Between Oct 12 and 26 Oct rain was 100mm. So our vineyard workers were trying to cut the rotten bunches off and eliminating leaves to aerate the remaining fruit. We picked the CS for Vega Sicilia well into November. Mid crimson with a little bit of evolution. Sweet and heady on the nose – definitely tertiary and gamey aromas. Quite a bit of acidity and something a little raw and animal. Quite pinched and crude with less than fully ripe tannins – needs time? Certainly much less voluptuous than the 2000. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Very deep crimson. Sweet start and lots of acidity. Very slight lack of middle and dry finish. A much simpler wine than the Único 1964 served immediately before it so it, inevitably, suffered. I have very fond memories of the 1996 which was a real crowd-pleaser. (JR)
The brilliant 1999 reveals blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with creosote, tar, licorice, and earth. Medium to full-bodied, with sweet fruit as well as excellent purity, it should drink well for a decade. Importer: a Christopher Cannan Selection, various American importers including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300 and Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 567-9897
Saturated, deep ruby-red. Raspberry, mocha and nutty oak on the nose, with notes of espresso and molasses. Dense, meaty and powerful; tightly wound and not showing its fruit today but possesses a deep sweetness. A seriously structured young wine with a smoked meat character on the long, firmly tannic finish.
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.