Vega-Sicilia
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Vega-Sicilia
Order Vega-Sicilia »
Top Vintages Produced: |
Único Gran Reserva: 1942, 1968, 1975, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
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Classification: |
Vega-Sicilia Único Gran Reserva, Vega-Sicilia Único Reserva Especial, Vega-Sicilia Valbuena 5°
- Denominación de Origen
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Varieties: |
Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec
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Wines Produced: |
Vega-Sicilia Único Gran Reserva – Tinto Fino (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), Merlot (5%)
Vega-Sicilia Único Reserva Especial – Tinto Fino (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%), Merlot (5%)
Vega-Sicilia Valbuena 5° – Tinto Fino (80%), Merlot (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%)
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History
Considered by many to be the "Lafite of Spain", Vega-Sicilia is the most valuable wine from the
Iberian Peninsula. The estate is located in Ribera del Duero, east of Valladolid, and covers 1000 hectares
of which 250 are under vine.
Vega-Sicilia was founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves on his return to Spain from Bordeaux. He brought back
with him a selection of vine cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Carménère and Pinot Noir, which he subsequently
planted along with Tinto Fino (a local clone of Tempranillo) on the estate. However, over the next century, ownership
of the estate changed hands several times, leading to instability in its management and inconsistent wines.
In the early 20th century, under the ownership of Antonio Herrero, Vega-Sicilia’s reputation began to grow as it
garnered a number of awards and enjoyed greater international distribution. However, it was the Alvarez Family (that
took the estate reins in 1982) and their attention to detail in the vineyard and winery that has propelled
Vega-Sicilia into its current level of world-class recognition.
(read more)
Through intense modernisation efforts, the Alvarez’s ensure that innovation remains at the forefront but that the
traditional practices which have defined Vega-Sicilia for generations are still respected. This duality is the key
to the immaculate wines produced at the estate.
Viticulture and Vinification
Controlling the yields is essential for the estate and green-harvesting is employed to ensure
concentrated, quality fruit is produced. The severity of the selection process allows the unique
character of the terroir to come through in the opulent, massive wines that are produced. These wines
have such a high level of concentration that they are aged for many years in oak barriques, and then
further bottle-aged prior to their release.
The estate produces two principal wines - the Único Gran Reserva, which is a vintage bottling, and the rare
Reserva Especial, which is a multi-vintage blend that expresses the finest aspects of Vega's winemaking style and
is only released at specific times. The Único Gran
Reserva has over 7 years of oak ageing and over 3 years in bottle before release.
Valbuena 5º is the second wine, produced with the same grapes used in the Único Gran Reserva, but from lesser vintages.
Despite the prolonged barrel ageing, the wines are never over-oaked or over-dry, which is testament to the quality of the
grapes and the winemaking.
In the 1990’s Vega-Sicilia embarked on an aggressive expansion programme, acquiring the nearby Alion estate
(which makes wines intended for early consumption) in 1991 and an estate in Toro called Pintia in 1997, which makes
100% Tempranillo wines.
In 1993 Vega-Sicilia also acquired the Hungarian Tokaj estate, Oremus.
Classification
- Vega-Sicilia Único Gran Reserva – Denominación de Origen
- Vega-Sicilia Único Reserva Especial – Denominación de Origen
- Vega-Sicilia Valbuena 5° – Denominación de Origen
Varieties
- Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) is the most widely planted variety with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec the remainder.
Wines Produced
- Vega-Sicilia Único Gran Reserva – 80% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot
- Vega-Sicilia Único Reserva Especial – 80% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot
- Vega-Sicilia Valbuena 5° – 80% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo), 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Order top vintages of Vega-Sicilia
- Vega-Sicilia Único Reserva Especial 2011 release: (99 JM)
"It simply does not get any better..." – Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate
- Vega-Sicilia Único Reserva Especial 2010 release: (99 JM)
"Rich, savoury, and plush, it effortlessly combines power and elegance..." – Jay Miller,
The Wine Advocate
- Vega-Sicilia Único Gran Reserva 1998: (98 JM)
"Sweet fruit, great concentration, and layers of flavour..." – Jay Miller,
The Wine Advocate
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Not seeing the specific wine or vintage you’re looking for?
The wines displayed here only represent a small portion of our total inventory.
To check our complete stockholdings, please contact
us via email or call us on +44 (0) 20 3219 5588.
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