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Vega Sicilia - Ribera del Duero Unico Reserva Especial 2026

Vega Sicilia - Ribera del Duero Unico Reserva Especial 2026

99/100

James Suckling

98/100

Robert Parker

18/20

Jancis Robinson

Spain
Tempranillo
to be decanted
velvet
unique
at the top

"A blend of the 2011, 2013, and 2014 Unico vintages: the very essence of Vega Sicilia in this unique nectar, to be enjoyed today or over the next sixty years!"

This is a blend of the 2011, 2013, and 2014 vintages, which are concentrated and well-structured. The wine features impeccable tannins, beautiful complexity, and a long finish, and appears remarkably well-rounded thanks to its aging. Expect notes of blackberries, accompanied by a subtle balsamic nuance and high-quality cedar. The wine remains sumptuous while staying understated and complex, revealing abundant tannins that are fully integrated and dissolved. Expected release in 2026. It drinks very well already, but will benefit from a few more years of bottle aging. Drink now or cellar. (James Suckling 2025)

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-20€

Starting at €99 on your first order

Estate

Vega Sicilia

Vintage

Unico Reserva Especial 2026

Designation

Ribera del Duero

Region

Spain

Grape varieties

96% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), 4% Cabernet Sauvignon

Terroirs

Castilla y León region, plots with soils located at the junction of the slopes descending from the region and the alluvial plain, sandy-clay, vines averaging 37 years old, at an altitude between 700 and 900 meters

Viticulture

Traditional and refined

Grape Harvest

Manuals

Winemaking

A blend of the 2011, 2012, and 2014 vintages of Unico (each fermented at a controlled temperature in wooden tanks using indigenous yeast, and undergoing malolactic fermentation in a wooden tank)

Livestock farming

This wine is a blend of three vintages of Unico, each aged for a total of 10 years in barrels and bottles, with different stages in various types of casks: French and American oak barrels, 225-liter barrels (both new and used), and 20,000-liter barrels... Each batch determines the type of wood and the duration in each container (6 years in wood), followed by an additional 4 years of aging in bottles

Alcohol content

14,5%

Eye

A delicate, brilliant ruby color with purple highlights

Nose

Harmonious and complex, with aromas of crushed black fruits, tobacco, black pepper, and truffle; subtle notes of undergrowth and earth intertwine to create a seductive and inviting bouquet

Palate

As always, its velvety, silky texture is impressive, with firm, well-integrated tannins, magnificent balance, and flavors that echo the nose, offering great aromatic complexity that lingers on the palate through an endless finish

Serve

Serve at 17–18°C; decant to bring out its best qualities

Open

2 hours before

Drink from

2026

Drink before

2050

Food and wine pairings

Food and wine pairings

Enjoy it with grilled slices of Wagyu beef or thin slices of Bellota Iberian ham, or savor it on its own to appreciate all its subtle flavors...

More information at Vega Sicilia

More information at Ribera del Duero

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

Wine rated (2026 guide) 98/100 (Exceptional)

Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)

About the wine:

The NV Único Reserva Especial 2026 Release was produced from a blend of wines from 2011, 2012, and 2014—vintages similar to that of 2025, with 2014 wine used in place of 2013 this time—primarily Tinto Fino with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has an alcohol content of 14.5%, as usual, with a pH of 3.86 and an acidity of 4.8 grams. They try to use older wines for this blend; the 2011 and 2012 vintages are identical, and 2014 was a better vintage than 2013. This is a blending exercise aimed at capturing the Vega Sicilia character, with a certain complexity, as the older wines bring nuance and elegance and the younger wines add freshness. It has a magnificent palate—smooth, refined, and elegant—with fine tannins. A total of 18,618 bottles and 264 magnums were produced. It was bottled in May 2022. 2027–2043

Jancis Robinson

Jancis Robinson

Wine rated (2025 guide) 18/20

About the wine:

This is a fully matured wine, with deep tertiary notes and noble aging. The oak influence is more pronounced than in the 2016 Único, revealing aromas of sweet spices, tobacco leaf, cigar box, and supple leather. The tannins are superbly integrated—fine, silky, and harmonious—placing the wine on a magnificent plateau of maturity where it should remain for many years. The finish reveals notes of graphite, dried herbs, charred wood, and a subtle hint of Pu-erh tea on the aftertaste. Harmonious, contemplative, and resonant, this is an orthodox Reserva Especial—a wine that continues to embody patience. 2026–2050

James Suckling

James Suckling

Wine rated (2025 guide) 99/100

About the wine:

This is a blend of the 2011, 2013, and 2014 vintages, which are concentrated and well-structured. The wine features impeccable tannins, beautiful complexity, and a long finish, and appears remarkably well-rounded thanks to its aging. Expect notes of blackberries, accompanied by a subtle balsamic nuance and high-quality cedar. The wine remains sumptuous while staying understated and complex, revealing abundant tannins that are fully integrated and dissolved. Expected release in 2026. It is already very drinkable today, but will benefit from a few more years of bottle aging. Drink upon release or celller.

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