he Reserva Especial is Vega Sicilia's unique version of a traditional Spanish classic, the blend of three vintages. The 2020 release is composed of 2008, 2009 and 2010. The result is a delightfully sumptuous wine, with a glorious supple texture, dense fruit and sweet spices Despite the intensity it has Vega Sicilia's keynote brightness, emphasising its youth. The most approachable of Vega Sicilia's top wines, enjoy it now or for another 15 years. (Drink between 2020-2025)

A red with plenty of blackberry, chocolate, toasted-oak, cedar and hazelnut aromas that follow through to a full body with firm, velvety tannins that are driven and deep. Finishes with black fruit and lots of hazelnut, walnut and almond undertones. Glorious now. A blend of the following vintages: 2009, 2010 and 2011.

To be released in 2020, the NV Único Reserva Especial 2020 Release is a non-vintage blend of 59 barrels from 2008, 2009 and 2010, mostly Tempranillo with some Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine has been getting closer to the style of the Único, and the blend is from vintages very close to the current release of Único, but somehow this year I think the blend has added some complexity to the bottled wine, which has the heart and soul of the 2010 vintage. In fact, they told me they are keeping more wine to have some older vintages to blend for this Reserva Especial, because in the last few years, the wine has been a little too young for the style that it used to have in the past. This has finesse and some of the Burgundian style of the blends of yesteryear. 17,071 bottles and 214 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2016. - LG

Deep, glistening ruby-red. Highly perfumed, expansive aromas of crème de cassis, cherry preserves, vanilla, exotic spices and cured tobacco are complemented by suggestions of licorice, cigar box and espresso. Broad, dense and energetic on the palate, offering intense red and dark fruit, floral pastille, succulent herb and floral pastille flavors that show alluring sweetness and sharp focus. Finishes extremely long and smooth, with sneaky, harmonious tannins and lingering suggestions of candied rose, exotic spices and licorice. This is the 2020 release of this multi-vintage bottling. -- Josh Raynolds

Unico Reserva Especial stands apart. Gonzalo Iturriaga heads up Vega-Sicilia’s winemaking team, which begins to blend lots of Unico in the sixth year of aging. For this 2020 release, the five-member team decided on a blend of wines harvested in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The wine’s dynamic flavor complexity captures the essence of Ribera del Duero in its austerity and grace. It has the flavor of a black fruit that only exists in the tiny berries of ancient vines grown on north-facing hills in the gypsum-rich clay-and-limestone soils of Valbuena de Duero, in the province of Valladolid. It’s a fresh, brisk blend with deep bass notes of mushrooms and leather while scents of rose petals and black plums rise to contrast them. As chewy as a black mushroom, as meaty as grass-fed beef, this lasts with a quiet red-fruit glow, with the freshness of the cold sun. Reserva Especial will develop for decades, and this is a particularly impressive release.

This generous red offers rich flavors of plum, currant, licorice, tea and forest floor. Well-integrated tannins and orange peel acidity keep this focused, in a traditional style. Harmonious and long. Tinto Fino and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2030. 1,420 cases made, 66 cases imported. — TM