1987 Vega Sicilia Unico Riserva - 750ml

In Stock Unavailable
1987 Vega Sicilia Unico Riserva - 95 pts

Vega Sicilia is widely regarded as the greatest wine producer in Spain. The estate in Ribera del Duero is known for its dense, complex red wines made principally from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grape variety. Its top wine, Unico, is one of Spain's most expensive and sought-after wines.

The Vega Sicilia estate covers around 1000 hectares (2470 acres) of which around 210ha (520 acres) is under vine. It has been in operation since 1864, long before the development of the appellation in which it resides, and the current wine styles date from the 1910s. Quality has become more consistent since the current owners, the Alvarez family, took over in 1982.

Vega Sicilia makes three cuvées: Unico is the flagship, and the Reserva Especial is a blend of several of the best vintages. Traditionally they would be aged for 10 years or more before release, although this has been reduced in recent vintages. The junior wine, Valbuena, is made from younger vines, and is released after five years in American oak.


Product Details

Varietal Proprietary Blend
Vintage 1987
Rating 95 RP
Bottle Size 750 ml
Bottle Quantity 1
Country Spain
Region Ribera del Duero
Location Castilla y Leon
Producer Vega Sicilia
Color Red
Wine Type Table

Winery Details

Varietal Proprietary Blend
Vintage 1987
Rating 95 RP
Bottle Size 750 ml
Bottle Quantity 1
Country Spain
Region Ribera del Duero
Location Castilla y Leon
Producer Vega Sicilia
Color Red
Wine Type Table

Robert Parker

Rating 95 RP - Pablo Alvarez believes 1987 was an atypical vintage for Vega Sicilia and that initially the Unico was “very tense, not generous and unusually harsh” but in bottle, he finds that it has become relaxed and whole. A blend of 80% Tinto Fino, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot/Malbec, it has a comparatively introspective bouquet with blackberry, warm gravel, blood orange and raspberry coulis. It opens nicely with aeration although it retains some of its saturnine nature that was apparently remarked upon its release. The palate is medium-bodied with an attractive, edgy bitter note on the entry. The tannins are a little coarse compared to other vintages but harmonious in the mouth. It is interwoven by edgy, crisp acidity with touches of cooked meat and mandarin, plus a little liquorice towards the sappy, succulent finish. It is missing a little flair, but represents a fine, assertive style of Unico that should mellow with bottle age. RP

Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator

Burghound

Burghound

Product Reviews

Recently Viewed Product

Loading...