Vega Sicilia Unico - The Kings Of Spains Wines !

Spain is often overlooked when it comes down to all aspects of the good life. You might be surprised to know that some of the worlds best restaurants today are located in Spain. There are a whole host of new and exciting Chefs coming on in Spain as we speak. Lets not forget that the actual worlds best Chef, Ferran Adria is a Spaniard too. I could go on and on about great cheeses, olive oils, fruits, one of the worlds best hams, great chocolate (yes chocolate - Choco Vic) and last but not least great wines. Speaking of wines from Spain most people will immediately think about Rioja wines. But the true king of Spain's wines is the Vega Sicilia!

What words can be conjured up to describe the wines of Vega Sicilia? These are truly special wines. Spain's first growth has history, a sense of place and a willingness to adhere to time-honoured traditions. The origins of the Vega Sicilia winery are officially regarded as 1864, which was when Don Eloy Lecanda Chaves returned from his travels in Bordeaux with vine cuttings, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Carmenere - all of which were found in Bordeaux at that time - and, curiously, some Pinot Noir. Who on earth had this grape of Burgundy for sale in Bordeaux? The answer is not known. Regardless, the cuttings were duly propagated and planted at Vega Sicilia, although the Carmenere and Pinot Noir are no longer found in the Vega Sicilia vineyards. Things did not initially go well, however, and the estate did not develop the reputation it enjoys today. By 1903 full ownership was obtained by Antonio Herrero, who, together with winery manager Domingo Garramiola, brought Vega Sicilia to the fore, winning a number of awards, and enjoying an international distribution.

Time marched on, however, and the estate changed hands several more times before it's acquisition by the current owners, the Alvarez family, in 1982. Like all great wines, Vega Sicilia begins in the vineyard. In the winery, such a massive wine will withstand many years in wood and Unico sees a complicated series of rackings from huge barrels to new oak, to used American oak, back to new oak again, and on it goes. Winemaker Xavier Ausas refers to these stages somewhat romantically as "muscularisation", "education", "recuperation" and so on. Whatever these phases are called, Unico certainly receives very prolonged barrel ageing, with the 1970 seeing over sixteen years! And yet these are not washed out, stretched, overly oaky wines when mature, testimony to the quality of the raw materials on which they are based.The Vega Sicilia range has been rationalised from four to three four cuvées. Leading the pack are the Unico ("unique"), which is always of gran reserva quality, and a fascinating non-vintage blend named Reserva Especiald. In addition there is a second wine, Valbueno 5°. This is always of reserva quality, the 5° designates that the cuvée has been aged for five years before release. The Valbueno 3° - aged for three years before release - was phased out in 1988 in order to reduce confusion. The wines of Vega Sicilia are renowned for their complexity, intensity and longevity and are amongst the finest in the world. The Unico's are colored in rich royal purple, well balanced and powerful wines that show flavors and aromas of plums, black fruits, chocolate, anise and spice flavors. With plenty of smooth tannins and a long finish, Unico's are highly styled wines. If you have a chance, give it a try you will be surprised how great these wines are.
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