Vega Sicilia Unico 2007

Vega Sicilia Unico 2007 is a 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. "They have kept 2005 and 2006 for now, and they are releasing the 2007 Único from a lighter vintage that is accessible already; they will even sell 2008 before 2005 and 2006. 2007 was a cold vintage in Ribera and it produced lighter, fresher wines (perhaps not as problematic as 2008, but there was also frost in 2007). The wine might be a tad lighter than other vintages, but it`s more structured than 2008; it combines elegance and power, is nicely balanced and should be able to develop in bottle for many years, although the quick evolution of the bottle once opened made me hesitate about its drinking window." Luis Gutierrez, 2015