2008 Vega Sicilia, Unico, Ribera del Duero, Bottle (750ml)
Price On Request
97JS97DR96VM
Critic key
VM = Vinous MediaJS = James SucklingDR = Decanter
- Rating
- JS97/DR97/VM96
- Producer
- Vega Sicilia Unico
- Vintage
- 2008
- Region
- Castilla y Leon
- Appellation
- Ribera del Duero
- Country
- Spain
- Format
- Bottle
- Volume
- 750mL
- ABV
- 14.5
- Type
- Still
- Color
- Red
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Product Description
JS97 "Firm and medium-to full-bodied with notes of charred bark, blackberries, tobacco, toast and dried flowers. Compact and brooding. Chewy tannins. Yet there’s a fine elegance. Tasted from magnum. Try after 2023." JS Sep 2022
DR97 "Balsamic cherry aromas. A distinct red fruit palate with crunchy acidity, offering pomegranate and cherries. As it develops in the mouth, the tannin develops giving a firm structure. Very long and concentrated finish, carrying the weight of alcohol lightly. The Atlantic character of the year will ensure persistent freshness. A cool vintage: cold, rainy spring, wide diurnal temperature range in midsummer, risk of frost in late September, harvest began very late on 10 October. One and a half years in new oak barrels, one year in used barrels, followed by about two and a half years in large-format tanks. Bottled June 2014. 59,214 bottles, 3,323 magnums, 210 double magnums and 24 Imperials. Tasted from magnum." SJE for DR Sep 2022
VM96 "Opaque ruby. Powerful, expansive aromas of cherry liqueur, cassis, pipe tobacco, incense and pungent flowers show outstanding clarity and pick up a smoky mineral quality with air. Stains the palate with concentrated dark berry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that are complicated by notes of mocha, cola and Indian spices. Distinctly generous in style but there's outstanding energy here as well. The gently tannic, dark-fruit-dominated finish emphatically echoes the spice and floral notes and lingers with striking persistence. Production for this bottling was cut by over half in this challenging vintage and the result shows what can happen when severe selection is applied in the vineyard and cellar. Speaking of tough years, the 2002 version of this iconic wine, from a vintage that has been ignored at best and vilified at worst, is drinking beautifully right now. In fact, it appears to have just entered its drinking window: its fruit is still a bit on the youthful side while its tannins have begun to recede. Like this 2008, it's a textbook example of what great vineyards, diligent farming and serious winemaking can accomplish under difficult circumstances." JR for VM Jan 2017
DR97 "Balsamic cherry aromas. A distinct red fruit palate with crunchy acidity, offering pomegranate and cherries. As it develops in the mouth, the tannin develops giving a firm structure. Very long and concentrated finish, carrying the weight of alcohol lightly. The Atlantic character of the year will ensure persistent freshness. A cool vintage: cold, rainy spring, wide diurnal temperature range in midsummer, risk of frost in late September, harvest began very late on 10 October. One and a half years in new oak barrels, one year in used barrels, followed by about two and a half years in large-format tanks. Bottled June 2014. 59,214 bottles, 3,323 magnums, 210 double magnums and 24 Imperials. Tasted from magnum." SJE for DR Sep 2022
VM96 "Opaque ruby. Powerful, expansive aromas of cherry liqueur, cassis, pipe tobacco, incense and pungent flowers show outstanding clarity and pick up a smoky mineral quality with air. Stains the palate with concentrated dark berry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors that are complicated by notes of mocha, cola and Indian spices. Distinctly generous in style but there's outstanding energy here as well. The gently tannic, dark-fruit-dominated finish emphatically echoes the spice and floral notes and lingers with striking persistence. Production for this bottling was cut by over half in this challenging vintage and the result shows what can happen when severe selection is applied in the vineyard and cellar. Speaking of tough years, the 2002 version of this iconic wine, from a vintage that has been ignored at best and vilified at worst, is drinking beautifully right now. In fact, it appears to have just entered its drinking window: its fruit is still a bit on the youthful side while its tannins have begun to recede. Like this 2008, it's a textbook example of what great vineyards, diligent farming and serious winemaking can accomplish under difficult circumstances." JR for VM Jan 2017