Vega Sicilia Unico 2010 (1.5L)

99 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "Silky and polished, with a medium to full body and very fine, tight tannins. Layers of sour cherries, Spanish cedar, nutmeg, lemon peel, balsamic and licorice. Intensely spicy throughout. Goes on for minutes. Still needs time. Tasted from magnum. Try after 2023." 09/22

98 Points, Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Decanter: "This is, in my view, the best Unico in the last decade, with unmatched delicacy and complexity and the potential to improve in bottle over many years. Quite intensely perfumed with black-berry fruits and elegant hints of clove and coffee, the wine is magical on the palate, with its extremely fine-grained texture, a surprising freshness and a never-ending finish. After 10 years of ageing, it is still too young and needs a long time to reach its potential, but it is difficult not to drink it now. Still the greatest in its unique style."07/20

97 Points, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Decanter: "Vega Sicilia’s own notes say ‘this vintage will go down in history’. Hard to argue with that. Fabulously aromatic with layers of sumptuous fruit, elegant oak and some tertiary characters beginning to show through. Succulent and silky arrival in the mouth, blossoming to red fruits, pomegranates and plums. Overall, elegant with superb promise. A wine that has all the elements for greatness over time. Late frost in May, excellent summer. 25hl/ha. One and a half years in new oak barrels, one year in used barrels, about two and a half years in large-format tanks. Bottled June 2016. 85,185 bottles, 3,362 magnums, 228 double magnums and 36 Imperials. Tasted from magnum." 09/22

98 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous: "Opaque violet. Intensely perfumed, expansive black and blue fruit preserve, potpourri, Moroccan spice and botanical herb scents are complemented by smoky mineral and vanilla flourishes. Sappy, penetrating and deeply concentrated on the palate, offering vibrant, mineral-laced black currant, bitter cherry, chewing tobacco, mocha and floral pastille flavors that deepen and turn sweeter on the back half. Shows superb focus and vibrant, floral lift on the wonderfully long, youthfully tannic finish, which leaves behind cherry liqueur, candied violet and spicecake notes." 12/20

97 Points, Luis Gutiérrez, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "I've always liked the 2010 Único, and this magnum didn't disappoint me. It was a very good and complete year. The wine is still young and lively, but the primary aromas are starting to fade and the tertiary ones are coming out. This is a very elegant vintage of Único. 3,362 magnums were filled in June 2016. Artwork by Eduardo Naranjo." 01/23