From the 1,000 hectares that make up the Vega Sicilia estate, 210 are used for vine-growing, under 19 soil types and 57 plots with very specific characteristics. The influence of the Duero River's flow and the passage of time have been vital in developing these soils. Forty of these hectares are used to produce Unico, aged for at least ten years (in barrel and bottle) is one of the longest in the world. New and used 225-litre French and American oak barrels and 22,000-litre tanks. A long complex process, for a legendary wine. A generous, potent vintage providing an expressive, profound, rich wine.

I tasted a bottle of the 2009 Único blind and was taken by the freshness, the red fruit notes and the Burgundian-like characteristics of this vintage, which on paper was quite warm and dry. I also tasted the 2009 Valbuena, which is always more approachable, and was blown away by its aromatics. With time in the glass the Único opened up and got closer to the character of Valbuena but with more depth and clout, while showing extremely elegant. I tasted it again in the context of all the wines from the group, and it delivered all that I saw when I tasted it blind. It takes some time to unfurl its aromatic palette, and it feels young and somewhat undeveloped, younger than it is. It has a touch that made me think of the old vintages of Único on the nose but with very polished tannins and a soft mouthfeel that provides elegance. This is a wine that ages for no less than ten years before it's released. 2009 seems like a great vintage for Vega Sicilia, much better than what I anticipated. It should develop nicely in bottle. 74,274 bottles, 3,390 magnums, 209 double magnums and 22 imperials were produced. It has been in bottle since June 2015. - 98 - Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate