This is the wine that put Spain on the fine-wine map and stays there with zero effort. Unico isn't just a bottle of wine; it’s a lesson in patience. Most wineries are rushing to get their bottles onto shelves, but Vega Sicilia does the opposite. They keep Unico in the cellar until it has "found itself," sometimes waiting ten years or more before they let a single cork be pulled. Unico, an assemblage of Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon, is a world-renowned icon and the flagship wine of Vega Sicilia. Of the almost 1,000 hectares that make up the Vega Sicilia estate, 210 are dedicated to the cultivation of vines, with nineteen different types of soil and fifty-five plots with very specific features. In the extraordinary management of these soils, the influence of the course of the River Duero and the passage of time have been crucial. Forty of these hectares are used to produce Unico, which is aged for a minimum of ten years between barrel and bottle, one of the longest ageing processes in the world. Both French and American oak are used, in new and used 225-litre barrels and 22,000-litre vats. Though long and complex, this maturation technique works wonders and the wines gain a myriad of nuances, a precise texture, and a wonderful depth over time. Thanks to this incredible terroir and unique ageing process, Unico can continue developing for decades. The 2016 vintage marks a special moment in the estate’s history. It is the first release fully shaped by technical director Gonzalo Iturriaga de Juan, who joined in 2016 with a mission of precision and balance. The result is an "instant classic" - a fragrant, understated, and incredibly elegant wine that has already picked up a massive 98 points from Tim Atkin MW. [#intro]Vega Sicilia's flagship red wine & world-renowned icon...[/intro]