Vega Sicilia Unico Reserva Especial 2022

James Suckling
99/100 punten
Extremely nuanced and complex nose that shows high-grade cigar box and cigars, fresh blackberries, orange peel, together with red-chili chocolate, walnut, iron and hints of cocoa powder. This is intense, elegant and savory with real finesse, savoriness and complexity. Juicy, dusty and immaculate tannins and an extremely long, savory finish that lasts over a minute. Mainly a blend of 2009 and 2011 and 2012. Surprisingly, this is already approachable now, but better after 2024.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
98/100 punten
Único Reserva Especial 2022 Release is a blend of wines from 2008, 2010 and 2011, mostly Tinto Fino with some Cabernet Sauvignon mixing lots from the Único wines from those years. In the past, the blend was older vintages, but now it's wines that are around the same age as the Único. It has the complexity of mixing terroirs, vintages and grapes with parameters very similar to Único, 14.5% alcohol and good balance with a pH of 3.83 and 5.4 grams of acidity (measured in tartaric acid per liter). In the blend, they look for keeping the style of past blends, combining the more aged notes of the older wines and the freshness of the younger ones. I was very pleasantly surprised by the performance of this Reserva Especial, which seems to be going back to the character of the blends from yesteryear, with more finesse, elegance and nuance. This is perfumed, elegant, harmonious and balanced. It has very fine, already polished tannins and integrated acidity. 2008 and 2010 are cooler years, and they seem to give the blend this freshness and elegance. It has all the components, and especially the balance between all of them, to age nicely in bottle. 16,961 bottles and 201 magnums were filled in June 2018.

Vega Sicilia has increased the capacity in oak vats—they have 40,000 liters more. They produce between 235,000 and 300,000 bottles per year depending on the vintage.

Decanter
97/100 punten
The Unico Reserva Seleccion Especial has become a cult, and no wonder. As Pablo Alvarez says: ‘It’s the most Vega Sicilia of them all.’ The 2022 release, a blend of the complexity of 2008, the structure of 2010 and the freshness of 2011 is far more than the sum of its parts. Floral with red apples and roses on the nose. In the mouth a firm grip, juicy, textured, a wine that is comfortably settled into itself. Not a very technical tasting note perhaps, but accurate: thoroughly enjoyable.