Vega Sicilia Unico, Ribera del Duero 2009

Deep red fruits and earthy spice

Aged for at least seven years in new French oak
Vega Sicilia is considered the top winery in Ribera del Duero, Spain
Founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who brought cuttings over from Bordeaux
Ribera del Duero has hot days and cool nights, so the grapes retain fresh acidity but ripen full red fruit notes
This could aged up to 40 years

Grape variety: Tempranillo (Aragonez), Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2009
Type/Colour: Red
Bottle Size: 75cl
Group: Castilla Y León
Sustainable: Yes

Spain's most prestigious wine estate is located in Ribera del Duero, beside a highway east of Valladolid. The estate covers around 1000 hectares, of which 230 - 250 are under vines. It was founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who arrived from Bordeaux with cuttings of local grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec) and planted them, together with Spain's signature grape Tinto Fino (a clone of Tempranillo) in the arid Ribera soils. The winery begun building its formidable reputation after 1903 under the ownership of Antonio Herrero, winning a number of awards, and enjoying an international distribution. The estate changed hands several more times before its acquisition by the current owners, the Alvarez family, in 1982. Vega Sicilia has founded its success on its meticulous wine-producing practices: In the vineyard it applies low yields, aided by green harvesting, and a painstaking grape selection. In the winery, wines undertake a complicated series of rackings from huge barrels to new and old oak. Despite the very prolonged barrel ageing the wineÂ's flavours are never dried out or overly oaky when mature, which is compelling evidence of the superb quality of its raw materials.

Vega Sicilia use organic fertilisers. They do not use any herbicides, and take a rational, balanced approach to the fight against pests and disease.