若提到最頂級的西班牙國寶級酒廠,當屬維嘉西西里亞酒廠。故事的起源要回到 1848年,Toribio Lecanda買下了約800公頃的土地,開啟了維嘉西西里亞的傳奇。園區早期主要的經營重心在於畜牧、穀物、果樹種植與陶器製作等,直到 1864 年由Toribio 的兒子 DonEloy Lecanda y Chaves 接手經營後,才開始耙地、種植。Eloy 不僅僅栽種本地的格
那希(Grenache) 與田帕尼歐 (Tempranillo) 品種,更從法國購買了 18,000 株葡萄,包含卡本內蘇維濃(Cabernet Sauvignon)、梅洛(Merlot)、馬爾貝克(Melbec)、甚至黑皮諾(Pinot
Noir) 品種。
1915 年,酒廠正式以維嘉西西里亞酒廠的名義推出5款葡萄酒:UNICO 紅酒、無年份的 UNICO
RESERVA ESPECIAL、UNICO 白酒 (1947 年起停產)、VALBUENA 5°以及 VALBUENA 3°(最後生產年份為1987)。1929 年在巴塞隆納世界博覽會 (Exposicion Universal de Barcelona) 中,維嘉西西里亞酒廠的旗艦酒款 UNICO 以 1917 與 1918 兩個年份贏得榮譽大獎,打響了酒廠的知名度。
WA: 98 Drink: 2020-2035
I tasted a bottle of the 2009 Único blind and was taken by the freshness, the red fruit notes and the Burgundian-like characteristics of this vintage, which on paper was quite warm and dry. I also tasted the 2009 Valbuena, which is always more approachable, and was blown away by its aromatics. With time in the glass the Único opened up and got closer to the character of Valbuena but with more depth and clout, while showing extremely elegant. I tasted it again in the context of all the wines from the group, and it delivered all that I saw when I tasted it blind. It takes some time to unfurl its aromatic palette, and it feels young and somewhat undeveloped, younger than it is. It has a touch that made me think of the old vintages of Único on the nose but with very polished tannins and a soft mouthfeel that provides elegance. This is a wine that ages for no less than ten years before it's released. 2009 seems like a great vintage for Vega Sicilia, much better than what I anticipated. It should develop nicely in bottle. 74,274 bottles, 3,390 magnums, 209 double magnums and 22 imperials were produced. It has been in bottle since June 2015.
