NV Unico Reserva Especial 2022 Release (08, 10, 11)
Buying options
Tasting notes
A blend of 96% Tinto Fino and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2026 edition is composed approximately of 35% 2011, 45% 2012, which provides the core and structure of the wine, and 20% 2014, which brings lift and freshness to the base. This is a fully evolved, deeply tertiary wine of noble ageing. The oak imprint is more present than in Único 2016, showing sweet spices, tobacco leaf, cigar box and supple leather. The tannins are exquisitely integrated – fine, silky and seamless – placing the wine in a beautiful plateau of maturity where it is likely to remain for many years. The finish reveals graphite, dried herbs, charred wood and a subtle note of Pu-erh tea on the back palate. Harmonious, contemplative and resonant, this is an orthodox Reserva Especial – a wine that always speaks patience. (FC)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
A blend of 96% Tinto Fino and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2026 edition is composed approximately of 35% 2011, 45% 2012, which provides the core and structure of the wine, and 20% 2014, which brings lift and freshness to the base. This is a fully evolved, deeply tertiary wine of noble ageing. The oak imprint is more present than in Único 2016, showing sweet spices, tobacco leaf, cigar box and supple leather. The tannins are exquisitely integrated – fine, silky and seamless – placing the wine in a beautiful plateau of maturity where it is likely to remain for many years. The finish reveals graphite, dried herbs, charred wood and a subtle note of Pu-erh tea on the back palate. Harmonious, contemplative and resonant, this is an orthodox Reserva Especial – a wine that always speaks patience.
96% Tinto Fino, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. During the 1960s the house began to reserve part of the wine from the most iconic vintages to make a blend. A tribute that brings together the best vintages for the winery's representative wine. The 2025 release is a blend of vintages 2011, 2012 and 2013. 2011 provides most of the tertiaries; 2012, the muscle and structure; 2013, the freshness as it was a vintage with a rather Atlantic profile. 9 years in barrels, large foudres and bottle. It is a blend that aims to demonstrate the greatness of Vega Sicilia. Production: 18,518 bottles and 261 magnums. Graphite, truffle, tobacco, sapidity and tannin that is pure silk. It offers great balance and depth. Multi-layered aromas and a balance between smooth tannin and a clearly tertiary flavour profile with dried herbs and lots of cedar. (FC)
The NV Único Reserva Especial 2023 Release is a blend produced with vintages 2009, 2011 and 2012, in search of a house style. It's a blend of Tinto Fino with some Cabernet Sauvignon with 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.85 and 5.2 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter of wine); so, it's a slightly lighter version of Reserva Especial. When in theory they used three warm, ripe and powerful vintages, the blend is not excessively powerful, but the longer élevage has polished that power and delivered a classical and proportioned wine, aromatic, spicy, with the Vega nose and a velvety palate with very fine tannins and great elegance. 18,318 bottles and 233 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2019.
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.