1999 Vega Sicilia Unico Tempranillo

WA 97 One of the perquisites of reviewing Spanish wine is the opportunity to taste the wines of Vega Sicilia once a year. The 1999 Unico delivers an ethereal, distinctly earthy bouquet of smoke, pencil lead, violets, loam, forest floor, leather, tobacco leaf, incense, black cherry, and blackberry complimenting intense fruit aromas of crushed cherries, raspberry compote and plums. The concentrated, full bodied palate reveals elegant crafting with a good intensity of dark berry fruit and savory, meaty flavors supported by acidity and silky tannins. Already complex on the palate thanks to its lengthy upbringing, this opulent wine has layers of black fruit flavor, impeccable balance, a very long finish and another twenty years of life ahead. Released after 10 years aging in cask and bottle. This was re-released because there was no 2001 made. Drink now-2030+.