



Ribera Del Duero DO Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial 2024 Famille Alvarez
14%
0.75L
Intensity
This blend of vintages reveals tremendous depth, character and finesse.
More infoUnico Reserva Especial celebrates the iconic Unico cuvée of the Vega Sicilia estate, achieved through the meticulous blend of several vintages. This elegant, fragrant expression captures the authentic style and signature of the estate. The Tinto Fino vines, which account for 95% of the cuvée, and the Cabernet Sauvignon vines, which constitute 5% of the blend, climb on sandy-clay soils at an altitude of 700 to 900 metres. The exceptional attention paid to the vines and the winemaking process results in a superb Spanish wine that naturally reveals the region’s unique terroir.
The cherry-red colour, with its subtle blue reflections, reveals a wonderfully intense bouquet, combining wild berry aromas with succulent hints of ripe fruit. The fruity, full-bodied and perfectly structured palate reveals fine tannins perfectly balanced with a fine bitterness, leading to a long, persistent finish.
Lot presentation
Ribera Del Duero DO Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial 2024 Famille Alvarez
The wine
Unico Reserva Especial celebrates the iconic Unico cuvée of the Vega Sicilia estate, achieved through the meticulous blend of several vintages. This elegant, fragrant expression captures the authentic style and signature of the estate. The Tinto Fino vines, which account for 95% of the cuvée, and the Cabernet Sauvignon vines, which constitute 5% of the blend, climb on sandy-clay soils at an altitude of 700 to 900 metres. The exceptional attention paid to the vines and the winemaking process results in a superb Spanish wine that naturally reveals the region’s unique terroir.
The cherry-red colour, with its subtle blue reflections, reveals a wonderfully intense bouquet, combining wild berry aromas with succulent hints of ripe fruit. The fruity, full-bodied and perfectly structured palate reveals fine tannins perfectly balanced with a fine bitterness, leading to a long, persistent finish.
About the Producer Vega Sicilia
Planted on mainly limestone soil similar to Burgundy, the Vega Sicilia vineyard is home to one of the world's greatest wines. Despite what it may seem, this legendary wine has nothing to do with Sicily, and instead takes its name from the Santos Sicilia family who owned the vineyard before 1864, with Vega meaning ‘valley’ in Spanish.
Out of the property’s 1000 hectares, which can be as high as 700 metres above sea level, looking down on the Duero (or Douro) River, 210 are dedicated to grape growing. Today, Bordeaux varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec) make up 20% of the vines with the remaining 80% being the local Tempranillo. The climate at the estate is continental with an Atlantic influence.
Vega Sicilia's defining feature lies in its unique ageing process, which is a subject of much controversy. The wine is aged in large oak barrels from the very first year, and then decanted into different barrels of varying ages and sizes. Next comes an ageing period of five to ten years, allowing this phenomenally powerful wine's temperament to be softened. Some mature vintages were aged for over 25 years in barrels. Nowadays, the estate operates a more ‘classic’ ageing process of no more than ten or so years.
Detailed characteristics
Quantity: 1 bottle
Origin: producer
Recoverable VAT: yes
Wooden case: no
French customs seal: no
Alcohol percentage: 14 %
Region: Spain - Castillo and Leon
Appellation: Ribera Del Duero DO
Owner: Famille Alvarez
Colour: red
Service temperature: 15°
Intensity: leaves you wanting more
Leading aroma: fruity
Tasting occasion: food-friendly wine