Vega Sicilia Único 1990 Magnum

Wine: Vega Sicilia Único 1990 Magnum
Winery: Bodega Vega Sicilia (Valbuena de Duero, Valladolid)
Appellation / Zone: D.O. Ribera del Duero
Varietals: 80% Tinto Fino, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.
ABV: 13.5% vol.

Winemaking:
Following alcoholic fermentation in wood and stainless steel, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in large neutral wooden vats (18,000 to 20,000 liters), where it remained for 2 years. It was then transferred to new 225-liter oak barrels for an 18-month aging period, followed by an additional 48 months in neutral oak barrels. The remainder of its maturation took place in the bottle until its release throughout 2004. Production was limited to 109,548 standard bottles (75 cl), 2,653 magnums, and 150 double magnums.

 

Tasting Notes

 

Appearance: Garnet-cherry color with medium-high depth; opaque, dark, and highly extracted. Featuring brilliant and luminous reddish and orange reflections. Minimal saffron-hued rim.

 

Nose: Despite being opened six hours prior to service, the wine remains remarkably tight and parsimonious. It displays an uncharacteristic austerity for a large-format Vega Sicilia, offering little aromatic expression. One can only intuit its hidden depth: faint traces of black fruit diluted by English tobacco, a slightly superfluous creaminess, and elegant oak. It remains imprecise and difficult to define at this stage.

 

Palate: Significantly more expressive on the palate than the nose suggests. It is compact, showing a more muscular and firmer structure than usual. Nearly polished and well-rounded, it features present yet plush tannins within a sober ensemble that feels more akin to a modern Ribera del Duero than a twenty-year-old Único. Long, concentrated, and vital, supported by good acidity.

 

Commentary:
The 1990 Único Magnum is a wine that currently guards its secrets with excessive zeal. While its palate reveals the undeniable backbone of a great wine, its aromatic closure is disconcerting. It presents a more modern and robust profile that deviates from the traditional ethereal elegance of the house. A technically correct red, yet one that leaves a sense of mystery and unfulfilled expectations in its current state.

 

Personal Score: 90
Tasting Group Average: 88