The 2012 Vega Sicilia Unico, a proprietary blend from the Ribera Del Duero region of Spain, is a noteworthy red wine produced by Vega Sicilia. This vintage, bottled in June 2018, offers a complex and powerful profile, reflecting the unique climatic conditions of its production year, including a rainy spring, a dry and warm summer, and September rains.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded this wine a score of 95, noting its "less ripe tannins" compared to other vintages due to the warm and dry year that caused the plants to block and the tannins to not ripen perfectly. Reviewer Luis Gutiérrez described it as "powerful but will always have a bit of rusticity." The wine has a slightly higher alcohol content, registered at 14.0%.
James Suckling gave an excellent review, scoring it 97 points, highlighting the wine's "intensity with dark tar and smoky notes followed by graphite, tobacco, bitter cacao, and dark fruit." He praised its structure, describing it as "powerful yet tight and compact, with firm and polished tannins." He recommended trying it after 2023 to allow further development.
Decanter also scored the wine 95 points, appreciating its "bright red cherry aromatics combined with delicate sensations of oak." The palate is described as "tighter with firm and bold tannins," suggesting that this wine needs time to integrate and soften. The wine spent one year in new oak barrels, another year in used barrels, and three years in large-format tanks, contributing to its intricate character.
Wine Spectator awarded it 96 points, noting its "fresh and elegant" nature with hints of "fragrant Turkish bazaar spices, game, and dried mint." The palate reveals "deep notes of tarry smoke, fig cake, espresso, and iron alongside appealing fruit and spice." This review highlights the wine's capacity to offer both power and grace.
Wine Enthusiast, with a score of 97, described the wine's nose as dominated by "milk chocolate, butterscotch, and black cherry." The flavors include "black plum, black cherry, chocolate-covered espresso bean, and lavender," all nestled within a framework of deep-set tannins.
Wine & Spirits also gave a score of 96, praising the wine's "delicate side with floral notes of violets and honey," along with "capsicum spice in the tannins and bold, luscious fruit." This review emphasized the wine's refined power and earthy depths, suggesting it will reward long aging.
In summary, the 2012 Vega Sicilia Unico is a robust and complex wine with a diverse range of flavors and aromas. The reviews consistently highlight its structure and potential for aging, making it a highly regarded choice for enthusiasts and collectors.
