Vega Sicilia Único 1936

Wine: Vega Sicilia Único 1936
Winery: Bodega Vega Sicilia (Valbuena de Duero, Valladolid)
Appellation / Zone: D.O. Ribera del Duero
Varietals: Tinto Fino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Merlot.
ABV: (Not specified) 

Winemaking:
Following alcoholic fermentation, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in large wooden vats, where it remained for a minimum of 5 years. Subsequently, it matured for at least 10 years in various types of 225-liter oak barrels. The remainder of its maturation took place in the bottle prior to its commercial release. 

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Brownish-ruby color with medium-low depth; clear and highly evolved. Featuring coppery and amber reflections, with a fine sediment present at the base of the bottle. Broad, iodine-hued rim, showing no variation against the meniscus. 

 

Nose: Extremely subtle and light, yet possessing immense complexity. It is an intermittent bouquet that requires focused attention, appearing to fade only to return with renewed detail. A defined tertiary character prevails, offering fine wood, cedar, toasted cocoa, Coptic incense, and beeswax. These notes contrast beautifully with a floral freshness reminiscent of violet candies, lavender, and sage. It evolves slowly, revealing flashes of pitch and a soft balsamic hint of ivy and peppermint.

 

Palate: Silky, with an unexpected concentration given its age. It is polished, frank, and clean, featuring "pearly" tannins with a nacreous texture—a hallmark of Vega Sicilia's historical elegance. While profoundly sophisticated, at nearly 80 years of age, it sits at a fragile point where its acidity is beginning to wane, limiting further cellaring. It delivers a soft toast that carries nuances of Maraschino liqueur and creamy, fine wood.

 

Commentary:
The 1936 Único is a legendary wine that carries the weight of history with immense dignity. It is a masterpiece of integration and silkiness, currently sitting at a plateau of maturity that suggests it reached its absolute peak some years ago. It remains a poetic and evocative red, offering a rare opportunity to taste the soul of Valbuena from a period of great upheaval, standing now as a serene and stately relic.

 

Personal Score: 95
Tasting Group Average: 96