The evening of Thursday, April 13th, 2023 will be remembered for a historic wine tasting from Vega Sicilia winery. We explored several decades of Vega Sicilia Único, spanning from 1970 to 2010.
Tempos Vega Sicilia is located in the Ribera del Duero Designation of Origin (DO) in Castilla y León, Spain. Although the estate’s name dates back to 1577, it was founded in 1864 and released its first vintage in 1915 after changing hands multiple times. The true growth of the winery and the Ribera del Duero DO began in 1982 when this appellation was established, and the Álvarez family (current owners) acquired the winery.
Under the leadership of Pablo Álvarez and with a focus on quality, Vega Sicilia embraced organic viticulture (when it was uncommon in Spain) and aged their wines for 10 years before release, among other practices. These efforts positioned Vega Sicilia as one of the most coveted wine labels among consumers. Since the 1980s, they no longer accept new accounts and have expanded their export to 250 countries from a mere 5.
There’s much to share about this evening, but let me summarize some highlights from our tastings (wines were not decanted, only poured):
- Vega Sicilia Único 2010: We committed infanticide. This vintage exhibits immense power and aging potential, but it is not yet at its best.
- Vega Sicilia Único 2000: Personally, one of my favorites. While it still has a long way to go, it showcases vibrant fresh fruit notes.
- Vega Sicilia Único 1990: Among the most debated wines, it was my least favorite. Slightly faded, with pronounced spiciness and a tiny hint of brett at the finish, which made it more intriguing.
- Vega Sicilia Único 1980: A well-rounded wine, perfect for consumption, although not shining.
- Vega Sicilia Único 1970: Oh, my… I can’t express enough how long it has been since a wine gave me goosebumps. The evolution of this wine is truly remarkable. It made me realize that with Vega, Vega is Vega, and I can’t help but say that when it’s a good vintage, it’s worth waiting 40/50 years.