Wine: Vega Sicilia Único 1972 Magnum
Winery: Bodegas Vega Sicilia (Valbuena de Duero, Valladolid)
Appellation / Zone: D.O. Ribera del Duero
Varietals: 70% Tinto Fino, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, Malbec and Albillo
ABV: 13.5% vol.
Winery: Bodegas Vega Sicilia (Valbuena de Duero, Valladolid)
Appellation / Zone: D.O. Ribera del Duero
Varietals: 70% Tinto Fino, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, Malbec and Albillo
ABV: 13.5% vol.
Winemaking:
Grapes sourced exclusively from estate vineyards. After completing alcoholic fermentation, the wine was racked into large wooden vats (18,000 to 20,000 liters) for malolactic fermentation and stabilization for 22 months. It was then transferred to new 225-liter oak barrels for 22 months of aging. Subsequently, it was racked back into wooden vats to continue maturation for another 24 months. The remainder of the aging process took place in the bottle until its release. Limited production of 2,250 liters, bottled into 1,500 magnums.
Grapes sourced exclusively from estate vineyards. After completing alcoholic fermentation, the wine was racked into large wooden vats (18,000 to 20,000 liters) for malolactic fermentation and stabilization for 22 months. It was then transferred to new 225-liter oak barrels for 22 months of aging. Subsequently, it was racked back into wooden vats to continue maturation for another 24 months. The remainder of the aging process took place in the bottle until its release. Limited production of 2,250 liters, bottled into 1,500 magnums.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Reddish-ruby color with medium-low depth; very clear and clean,
slightly more evolved than other Vega Sicilia releases from the same
period. Amber and coppery reflections with moderate gloss. Broad,
tile-colored rim, showing almost no difference from the
interior of the meniscus.
Nose:
It presents itself with a "guard of honor"—brilliant without
unnecessary pyrotechnics. It recovers the dazzling style of the 1960
Único: luminous and at the same level of quality, power, and absolute
complexity. Serious and concentrated, it combines the finesse and purity
of a Vega Sicilia in a state of grace with a sturdy structural
architecture. Aromas of violet candy blend with charcoal, toasted cocoa,
cedar, and exquisite fine woods. It maintains the classic mineral
streak (graphite) enveloping dried fruit, coffee beans, lavender, ivy,
and fresh laurel. A titan!
Palate:
Expansive and broad, with greater intensity and energy than its light
color suggests. Silky and enveloping, with a caressing entry leading to a
display of high-quality macerated fruit. It is charged with vitality
and refinement, showing more nerve than usual but without harshness. It
possesses intense acidity and exceptionally elegant, soft tannins.
Commentary:
The best Spanish wine produced in 1972 and one of the best Vega Sicilia releases of the decade alongside the 1974. It still has room to reach full maturity, and there is no better format than the magnum for it to do so.
The best Spanish wine produced in 1972 and one of the best Vega Sicilia releases of the decade alongside the 1974. It still has room to reach full maturity, and there is no better format than the magnum for it to do so.
Personal Score: 96
Tasting Group Average: 96
Tasting Group Average: 96
No comments:
Post a Comment