Vega Sicilia, Unico Vintage:2011

Vega Sicilia, Unico Vintage:2011The great eternal Unico, with a touch of extra fruitiness and spiciness. Made after very long ageing in different oak vats and barrels, from selected plots (including 6% Cabernet Sauvignon) within Vega Sicilias estate, in the (rightly named) Unico method (72 months oak). Probably too young now, it should ideally not be opened in the next 10 years. Spains flagship, and very difficult for me to taste without passion.

I gave it a couple of extra days open to be sure just how lovely it was

pure and broad-ranging nose is composed of very fresh

more volume and it's quite open and expressive

It shows new dimension with each swirl of the glass

with a soft smokiness and olive notes

Readers will have to be patient with the 2016

the wine ends with a sweet

sumptuous personality

Jean-Louis and Gerard Chave opened a bottle of the 2003 Hermitage Blanc to give me an idea of how this vintage is aging

vanilla and lemon curd that expand and linger

This has the legs to age well over the medium to even longer-term but should drink reasonably well young if desired

it should be an enjoyable white Bordeaux to drink over the next 10-12 years