Vega Sicilia Único Reserva Especial 2025 Release ('11, '12, '13) NV

100 points/'Red Wine of the Year 2024,' Tim Atkin, MW: "Reserva Especial is always a blend of three vintages, released after a decade or more in barrel and bottle when it is beginning to be ready to drink. The 2025 release partners two very good to excellent vintages (2011 and 2012) with one of the wettest in history (2013), but this is so much more than the sum of its parts. In fact, it's one of the great Vega Sicilias. Marrying Tinto Fino and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, it has layers of sweet spices, tobacco leaf, graphite and liquorice, blackberry and summer berry flavours, granular tannins and an attractive volatile lift. Wine doesn't get any better than this. 2027-45. (2024)"

99 points Zekun Shuai (JamesSuckling.com): "This is Vega Sicilia's 2025 release. A mix of three vintages: 2011, 2012 and 2013. Blackberries, ashtray, incense, fine spices, dark chocolate and touches of black pepper and balsamic. Almost something bloody, but the highlight is really the sheer, velvety sheet of sweet, fully melted tannins, which are ultra-polished and refined. The long finish goes on well over a minute. Drink on release or hold. (8/15/24)"

98 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$980 list] The NV Único Reserva Especial 2025 Release was produced with a blend of wines from 2011, 2012 and 2013, with 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.86 and five grams of acidity. It has the core of the 2012, possibly the higher percentage in the blend too, which gives the power and structure with the freshness and tension of 2013, which also provides some balsamic characteristics, and less of the 2011. It has a very harmonious and subtle nose, and the wine shows extra complexity and elegance. It has the Único nose with more nuance and subtleness, but what I liked the most was the silky texture and the elegance of the tannins, as usual combining more developed characteristics with elegance and freshness. This is another stellar release of their non-vintage classical blend, slowly going back to the style of yesteryear. A total of 18,518 bottles and 261 magnums were produced. It was bottled in May 2021. Drink: 2025-2040. (1/2/25)"

98 points Wine Spectator: "Flavors of cherry, currant, spiced orange peel, licorice and cocoa powder are layered with savory notes of cured tobacco, iron and leather in this fresh, harmonious red. Subtle at first, opening in the glass and on the palate to reveal the finely detailed profile. Firm, deftly knit tannins impart a pleasing sense of tension and focus through the long, long finish. Tinto Fino and Cabernet Sauvignon. A blend of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 vintages. Drink now through 2045. 1,587 cases made, 32 cases imported. (5/14/.25)"

97 points/'Podium Award,' Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "Balsamic herbs, jammy. Colour: deep cherry, garnet rim. Nose: aged wood nuances, ripe fruit, cocoa bean, cigar, toasty. Palate: flavourful, spicy, toasty. (2025)"