Único Reserva Especial Venta 2016 (1996+1998+2002) NV 75cl

Die neueste Edition mit einem Blend von 1996, 1998 und 2002. Produktion: 15'894 Flaschen und 233 Magnum. Reifendes Weinrot, in der Mitte dunkel, aussen mit ganz feinen, ersten ziegelroten Reflexen. Die Nase zeigt süssen Waldboden, Sandelholz, Caramel, füllig über im Nasenbild, dann mit ganz fein jodigen, mineralischen Noten aufwartend, insgesamt zeigt er eine deutliche Reife durch seine firnigen Terroiraromen. Im Gaumen rote Pflaumen, die Säure ist weich und gibt dem Wein eine angenehme Fülle. Ein kategorieloser Charme-Vega und halt eben «special» und somit, wiederum – vom System her – weltweit einzigartig. 19/20 trinken

The NV 2016 Único Release Reserva Especial is a blend of different harvests looking for a consistent style. In the case of the wine that will be sold in 2016, it's a blend of 1996, 1998 and 2002. The nose is complex, reminiscent of the regular Único, with some herbal undertones, plenty of spices and something earthy, starting to develop some more complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with lively acidity (I think it blends three vintages that were above the average in acidity), but does not show the depth and elegance of the 2015 release. Even though they look for a consistent style through the different releases, there is no doubt that the vintages that compose the blend have some effect and the different bottlings show quite differently. I've been wanting to do a vertical (?) of Reserva Especial, as it's a wine that is not very well known and I think deserves more attention. Some 18,000 bottles of the blend to be released in 2016 were produced. Oct 2015 Drink: 2015 - 2030<br/><br/>A couple of weeks before my appointment at Vega Sicilia, the big news broke: Javier Ausás, long time technical director at the Vega Sicilia group (recently renamed Tempos Vega Sicilia, a name that is a little pompous if you ask me), was leaving. A few days before I went, his replacement was named: Gonzalo Iturriaga. Who? That's exactly what everyone thought too! Iturriaga is an agricultural engineer with some experience in Ribera, one year in the early days of Alonso del Yerro, and then five years in Extremadura in charge of the wines of Habla, an ambitious project in a southwestern zone of Spain off the beaten track that didn't really take off. He spent his last five years selling yeasts and other oenological products for the French company Lamothe-Abiet, a CV that a priori looks a little poor for someone who is taking over the most prestigious winery from Spain. But let's give him time -- it will take a few years until we see any of his wines in the market -- and hope for the best.<br/>Other than that, they are releasing Único 2007 and 2008 before they sell 2005 and 2006, as the former are lighter vintages, and the latter are more powerful and require/benefit from some time in bottle. After tasting the wines, I followed the opened bottles and was a little worried to see that the wines showed plenty of oxidative aromas the day after, not what I expect for wines designed for a long and slow development in bottle.