Winemaker Notes
Unico Reserva Especial is shaped by time. A non-vintage wine, it is a combination of the best Unico vintages, blending their virtues and expressions. The very essence of the Vega Sicilia estate.
This style of winemaking, now almost extinct except for this Vega Sicilia wine, is a testament to a long tradition of blending the best vintages and cuvées into a wine called 'Reserva Especial', the producer's pride and joy.
Unico Reserva Especial 2025 release is a blend of Unico 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is Vega Sicilia's 2025 release. A mix of three vintages: 2011, 2012 and 2013. Blackberries, ashtray, incense, fine spices, dark chocolate and touches of black pepper and balsamic. Almost something bloody, but the highlight is really the sheer, velvety sheet of sweet, fully melted tannins, which are ultra-polished and refined. The long finish goes on well over a minute. Drink on release or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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 vintage, possibly the higher percentage in the blend too, providing the power and structure to go along with the freshness and tension of 2013, which also contributes some balsamic characteristics, and it has less of the 2011. The wine shows extra complexity and elegance, and it has the Único nose with more nuance and subtleness. But what I like the most is the silky texture and the elegance of the tannins—as usual, they combine 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.
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.