Vega-Sicilia Gran Reserva 2014
Vega-Sicilia is one of Spain's most critically acclaimed wines. The Vega Sicilia estate covers around 1,000 hectares. Of these, 210 are vineyards, with 19 different types of soil, divided into 64 plots with unique characteristics. The influence of the River Douro and the passage of time have played a decisive role in the extraordinary evolution of these soils.
Winemaking: The grapes from the 40 hectares are harvested by hand to the Único, which is aged for at least 10 years in oak and in bottle, one of the longest ageing periods in the world. In the first phase, we use 225-litre French and American oak barrels to shape the wine; in the second phase, we use 22,000-litre wooden vats. It's a long and complex construction process, but marvellous, as the wine acquires infinite nuances, precision, texture and depth over time.
Producer's tasting notes: The first impression on the nose is more subdued in the 2014 vintage, but the palate is broad, rich and delicious. It's a wine with structure, but also a silky texture, with concentration and finesse. It's a pleasure to drink now, but it will be timeless as it evolves in the bottle.
Varieties: 94% Tinto Fino and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon
The 2014 Único is the second wine in a row from a cooler, so-called Atlantic year, although the harvest was considerably less wet than 2013. Sourced from the best 40 hectares on the Vega Sicilia estate, covering a total of 30 parcels, this is a stunningly floral, complete, layered Tinto Fino with lily, wild rose and mountain herb aromas, subtle French and 25% American oak, some added backbone from 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a palate of bramble, black cherry, Asian spices and tobacco embellished and freshened by a bright, chalky finish
A refined, ethereal and elegant Unico. Streamlined layers of mixed peppercorns, smoked paprika, blackberries and spiced dark fruit. Hints of orange zest and flowers. Spicy, with tightly wound tannins. The length is impressive.
The 2014 Único was produced with grapes from 40 hectares of vines selected from the 210 hectares the winery has. The grapes were picked between September 20th and October 3rd, and the blend was 94% Tinto Fino and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. It fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts, with malolactic in stainless steel. The first part of the aging was in 225-liter barrels and the second one in 20,000-liter oak vats, and the élevage lasts 10 years between oak and bottle. It's a year that combines power and elegance; it's concentrated but has subtleness. I had a unique opportunity to taste it from magnum one year ago and was truly impressed. This tasting was consistent with those sensations. 2014 was a good vintage in the zone, a year with good rain and a big crop, not as powerful as 2012 or 2015 but a year with finesse. The wine feels very balanced, lower in alcohol and with integrated oak, crunchy, fresh and still young. It feels quite classical; it's fine-boned, elegant but also powerful, more like the Únicos from yesteryear. It has to be one of the finest vintages of recent times.
Brooding violet to the eye, this wine has a restrained nose of Simka plum and mocha with a hint of violet. It comes on a touch strong, with burly tannins backing blackberry, anisette, cocoa powder and fennel bulb flavors. As tannins drop off, a touch of lavender alights on the palate and lingers into the smooth finish. Drink through 2039.
