Unique 2014

Located in the heart of Ribera del Duero, on the northern Meseta plateau of Spain, the Vega Sicilia vineyard stretches along the right bank of the Duero, at a high altitude that favors significant temperature variations. The Único plots rest on soils mixing limestone, clay, and gravel, offering natural drainage and great geological complexity. This continental terroir with Atlantic influences, marked by harsh winters and hot but ventilated summers, allows for slow and complete ripening of the grapes, conducive to the production of profound and long-aging wines.

Resulting from a manual plot harvest, this wine is made from carefully sorted grapes, fermented in stainless steel tanks with temperature control to preserve aromatic integrity. The cuvée then undergoes a very long aging process, characteristic of the house, alternating different oak containers (large casks and barrels of various origins and ages), before extended aging in bottle, allowing it to achieve great complexity and a silky texture while retaining the elegance typical of the estate.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruits, red fruits, and plum, complemented by delicate floral touches, spicy nuances of pepper and licorice, as well as woody accents evoking cedar, tobacco, and vanilla. On the palate, the texture is ample and silky, supported by a fine but structured tannic framework, balanced acidity, and great aromatic persistence, with a long and harmonious finish that highlights the depth and elegance of the wine.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.