Lot 36
Spanish Royalty

1 – 3 Liter 1990 Vega Sicilia Unico
Tour and tasting for two (2) people at Bodegas Vega Sicilia

Halfway between Madrid and Santander lie sleepy Spanish villages whose picturesque church towers are often adorned with a stork’s nest. This bucolic visage belies the complex history of Spain’s most hallowed viticultural land - the Ribera del Duero. Over the last two millennia, this fertile plain has produced wines at the hands of the Romans, Cisterian monks, Charles III and Vega Sicilia.

Dating back to 1846, this pioneering winery was one the first in the world to import vines from Bordeaux. To this day, descendants of those Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines appear alongside a select clone of Tempranillo; known as Tinto Fino. The qualities of these vines result in complex dark red wines that are powerful, yet not overly alcoholic and can mature over a very long period - the longest lived wines in Spain.

The capacity - almost requirement - to age Vega Sicilia’s flagship wine, its “Unico Reserva,” has led to a rather unique practice. These wines are not sold when they are bottled. Instead, they are held at the winery until they have begun to mature. From a great vintage, this may leave collectors waiting for decades until the wines become available for purchase.

Long the benchmark against which all Spanish wines are measured, Unico’s unique Tempranillo and Cabernet blend has an impressive record of longevity. The 1990 Unico is a gorgeous example, a wine of great concentration and brooding youthfulness. Extremely full-bodied, its glorious bouquet offers vanilla intertwined with black cherry and cassis. Layered on the palate, this generous wine can be approached within a few years or cellared for another two decades.

This Unico is presented in a rare Double Magnum, the largest format bottle made by Vega Sicilia, and has been cellared at the winery until its release for the Naples Winter Wine Festival. As Robert Parker, Jr. has written, “No one knows how Vega Sicilia achieves such brilliance, but the proof is in the bottle.”

The fortunate winning bidder and a guest are also invited for a tour and tasting at the famed Vega Sicilia estate in Ribera del Duero. This estate is not open to the public or the trade, and visits are often reserved for royalty. The gardens and grounds, like the winery, are spectacular and impeccably maintained. As Vega Sicilia often ages a dozen or more vintages in its cellars, the panorama of those liquid treasures slumbering silently is nothing short of astounding, and the chance to enjoy them at the estate is priceless.

Insider’s Note: Visit to Vega Sicilia to be scheduled on a mutually agreeable date. Airfare to Spain is not included.

DONOR: Pablo Alvarez of Vega Sicilia