Vega Sicilia Único Reserva Especial 2026

Vega Sicilia Único Reserva Especial is made by Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Sicilia in the Ribera del Duero, and unlike a single vintage it is a blend drawn from the estate's finest Único years. The grapes are Tinto Fino, the local Tempranillo, with a portion of Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested after a meticulous berry selection and carried to the winery in small boxes to keep the fruit intact and fresh. The vineyards sit on the high plateau of the Duero valley, where limestone and clay soils and a continental climate of hot days and very cold nights produce small, concentrated berries with firm structure and bright acidity. The wine is aged 48 months in oak, an exceptionally long élevage during which slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and the blending of vintages builds layered complexity, adding leather, tobacco and sweet spice to the dark fruit. The colour is deep ruby with garnet at the rim. The nose shows plum, cherry, leather, tobacco and cocoa. On the palate it is full bodied and structured, with ripe, fine-grained tannins, fresh acidity and a very long finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant well ahead. Good with roast beef and game.