Vega Sicilia Unico Ribera del Duero 2014
Unico, an assemblage of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, is a world-renowned icon and the flagship wine of Vega Sicilia. Of the almost 1,000 hectares that make up the Vega Sicilia estate, 210 are dedicated to the cultivation of vines, with nineteen different types of soil and fifty-five plots with very specific features. In the extraordinary management of these soils, the influence of the course of the River Duero and the passage of time have been crucial. Forty of these hectares are used to produce Unico, which is aged for a minimum of ten years between barrel and bottle, one of the longest ageing processes in the world. Both French and American oak are used, in new and used 225-litre barrels and 22,000-litre vats. Though long and complex, this maturation technique works wonders and the wines gain a myriad of nuances, a precise texture, and a wonderful depth over time. Thanks to this incredible terroir and unique ageing process, Unico can continue developing for decades. Tinto Fino (94%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (6%), 2014 is a particularly rich yet precise Unico. This wine is a true paradox, enjoyable to drink now, but timeless when allowed to age in bottle.
