Vega Sicilia Unico 1991

Vega Sicilia Unico 1991 is a mature Tempranillo-based red wine produced in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Vega Sicilia was founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who established the vineyards with cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec taken from the vineyards of Bordeaux. The estate planted Tempranillo alongside these Bordelais varietals, which now makes up the majority of the modern Vega Sicilia blend. The flagship wines are Unico and Unico Reserva Especial - the former is aged for 10 years before release while the latter is a blend of only the finest vintages. "Wonderfully complete. spicy, balsamic red fruit aromas; an explosion in the mouth with the layers of tannin nicely meshed with the ripe fruit. Splendidly composed. At 30 years, just coming into itself nicely. This is a wine that reveals the longevity of the great Únicos. Warm spring with average to high rainfall. Harvest began 30 September in dry conditions with high temperatures. After fermentation it remained in large-capacity wooden vats for two years. American and French oak was used, although mainly American. Spent 16 months in new casks, two years in semi-new casks and three years in large-capacity wooden vats, then aged in bottle." Decanter, 2022