Vega Sicilia Unico 1983
Vega Sicilia Único 1983 is a red wine from Vega Sicilia, produced in Ribera del Duero within the Castilla y León region of Spain. This cuvée blends Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Wine Advocate awarded it 92/100 and indicates a drinking window from 1997 to 2027. Critics describe a mature wine with melted tannins and a palate that is more expressive than the nose, marked by an already polished structure and hints of dry hay.
Identité du vin
- Couleur
- Red
- Pays
- Espagne
- Région
- Ribera del Duoro
- Producteur / Domaine
- Vega Sicilia
- Cuvée
- Unico
Cépage et assemblage
- Grape Variety
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo
Vega Sicilia
Vega Sicilia is an estate in the Ribera del Duero region, situated in Valbuena de Duero, in the province of Valladolid. Its vineyard covers 210 hectares, planted mainly with Tempranillo, supplemented by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The estate has been owned by the Álvarez Mezquíriz family since 1982.
- Owner
- Famille Álvarez Mezquíriz, via la société El Enebro
- Maître de chais
- Gonzalo Iturriaga
- Surface (ha)
- 210.00 ha
- Production (average bottles per vintage)
- environ 300 000 bouteilles/an
Histoire du domaine
The name Vega de Sicilia first appeared in 1577 to refer to this estate situated on the banks of the Duero. In 1848, Toribio Lecanda acquired the estate from the Marquis of Valbuena. His son, Eloy Lecanda, established a professional wine-making business there in 1864. The winemaking facilities were completed in 1882. The estate was sold to Pascual Herrero Bux in 1888, then purchased at auction by Antonio Herrero Vázquez in 1897; it subsequently remained in the family for several generations. In 1950, the seed company Prodes acquired the property and Bodegas Vega Sicilia S.A. was established; Jesús Anadón then became a key figure in its development. Hans Neumann bought the estate in 1965. The Álvarez Mezquíriz family acquired it in 1982 and have remained the owners ever since. A major modernisation of the vineyard and winery was completed in 2014, to mark the company’s 150th anniversary. Gonzalo Iturriaga is currently the technical director of the Tempos Vega Sicilia group.
Unico
Único is the iconic wine of Vega Sicilia, crafted from a blend of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon in varying proportions. It is distinguished by an exceptionally long aging process, generally lasting at least ten years across different wooden vessels and the bottle. It is designed to develop great complexity and exceptional aging potential.
- Origin of the cuvée name
- The name "Único", which means "unique" in Spanish, emphasizes the singular character of the wine and pays tribute to the estate's Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards.
- Cuvée creation year
- 1915
- Style of the cuvée
- A great red wine in a classic, firm, and structured style, seeking a balance between power, elegance, and a silky texture. Its very long aging encourages progressive complexity, a patinated expression, and exceptional aging capability.
- Position within the range
- Iconic wine and prestige cuvée of Vega Sicilia, positioned at the pinnacle of its range of vintage wines.
Histoire de la cuvée
The first vintage of Único was documented in 1915, driven by winemaker Domingo « Txomin » Garramiola. This cuvée established the historical renown of Vega Sicilia and remains presented by the estate as the precursor and patriarch of its wine lineage.
