2016 Valbuena, 2011 Unico
Few wineries anywhere enjoy the near-mythical status of Vega Sicilia; although its original inspiration came from the great wines of Bordeaux, over time it has developed into something both all its own, and quintessentially Spanish. It sits in the heartland of what is now known as the Ribera del Duero DO, though it long predates the official establishment of that region. In this dry, rocky landscape, the meanders of the river Duero and the passage of time have shaped a complex landscape of soil types, painstakingly mapped out by the winery. The levels of care and precision that Vega Sicilia put into managing, harvesting and vinifying these diverse parcels is astounding. Vega Sicilia is a winery with its roots in the past and its sights firmly on the future.
Unico is - as its name implies - unique. It is aged for a minimum of ten years between barrel and bottle, one of the longest aging processes anywhere, in a mixture of French and American oak barrels of different sizes. It is a long and complex process, but over time the wine gains extraordinary nuances, a wonderful texture, and great depth.
Valbuena comes from different plots and a slightly different grape blend. Where Unico is mainly Tinto Fino (the local Tempranillo clone), with just a little Cabernet to spice it up and round it out, Valbuena is largely Tinto Fino given extra breadth, depth and succulence by a little Merlot. Valbuena enjoys a five-year aging process, from barrel to vat to bottle. The 2016 is balanced, elegant, complex and concentrated, and like its older sibling, clearly set to age for a long time. /NT
Offered subject to confirmation; for shipment Spring 2021
