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Tasting notes
The 2012 Único from magnum showed less ripe tannins in the context of other vintages like 2014 or 2004, as the year was very warm and dry and the plants got blocked and the tannins didn't ripen perfectly. There is a little more alcohol, and it's powerful but will always have a bit of rusticity. 3,537 magnums were filled in June 2018.
Critic scores
Average Score
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
I like the intensity to this, with dark tar and smoky notes followed by graphite, tobacco, bitter cacao and dark fruit. Powerful yet tight and compact, with firm and polished tannins. Structured and so long. Tasted from magnum. Try after 2023.
95% Tinto Fino, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Wet spring with no frost was followed by an extremely dry and warm summer with beneficial rainfall at the end of September. Harvest 19 September to 10 October. Yield 24.5–25.9 hl/ha. Bottled June 2018: 88,188 bottles, 3,537 magnums, 328 double magnums, 55 Impériales and 5 Salmanazars. From magnum. Relatively pale maturing crimson. Rich velvety complex cocktail of aromas. Spicy, exotic – even explosive on the nose. Really rather majestic and powerful with the tannic structure of an intense bordeaux. Our notes suggest this ‘can be enjoyed immediately’ despite its potential to age but I’d say it’s even less approachable than the 2014. Tannic, even inky, grip on the end but clearly there is masses there. (JR)
Tense, tight nose. Black chocolate, dark fruit, finely ground tannin. A little shy? Not firing on all cylinders. Beautiful furry texture though, and enough intensity to unfurl its petals further in future. (RH)
About the producer
Vega Sicilia is undoubtably Spain’s most famous winery; a true icon in fine wine with a history dating back to 1864.