Vega Sicilia Único Ribera del Duero 2014

99 points/'Red Ribera del Duero Wine of the Year,' Tim Atkin, MW: "(14%). The 2014 Único is the second wine in a row from a cooler, so-called Atlantic year, although the harvest was considerably less wet than 2013. Sourced from the best 40 hectares on the Vega Sicilia estate, covering a total of 30 parcels, this is a stunningly floral, complete, layered Tinto Fino with lily, wild rose and mountain herb aromas, subtle French and 25% American oak, some added backbone from 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and a palate of bramble, black cherry, Asian spices and tobacco embellished and freshened by a bright, chalky finish. 2026-40. (2023)"

98 points Luis Gutiérrez (Wine Advocate): "[$750 list] The 2014 Único was produced with grapes from 40 hectares of vines selected from the 210 hectares the winery has. The grapes were picked between September 20th and October 3rd, and the blend was 94% Tinto Fino and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. It fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts, with malolactic in stainless steel. The first part of the aging was in 225-liter barrels and the second one in 20,000-liter oak vats, and the élevage lasts 10 years between oak and bottle. It's a year that combines power and elegance; it's concentrated but has subtleness. I had a unique opportunity to taste it from magnum one year ago and was truly impressed. This tasting was consistent with those sensations. 2014 was a good vintage in the zone, a year with good rain and a big crop, not as powerful as 2012 or 2015 but a year with finesse. The wine feels very balanced, lower in alcohol and with integrated oak, crunchy, fresh and still young. It feels quite classical; it's fine-boned, elegant but also powerful, more like the Únicos from yesteryear. It has to be one of the finest vintages of recent times. It has 14% alcohol, a pH of 3.85 and five grams of acidity measured in tartaric acid per liter of wine... It was bottled in June 2020... Drink: 2026-2044. (1/4/24)"

98 points James Suckling: "A refined, ethereal and elegant Unico. Streamlined layers of mixed peppercorns, smoked paprika, blackberries and spiced dark fruit. Hints of orange zest and flowers. Spicy, with tightly wound tannins. The length is impressive. 94% tempranillo and 6% cabernet sauvignon. Tasted from magnum. Coming along nicely. Try on release in 2026 or after. (9/6/22)"

98 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "Brooding violet to the eye, this wine has a restrained nose of Simka plum and mocha with a hint of violet. It comes on a touch strong, with burly tannins backing blackberry, anisette, cocoa powder and fennel bulb flavors. As tannins drop off, a touch of lavender alights on the palate and lingers into the smooth finish. Drink through 2039. (Sep 2024)"

97 points Sarah Jane Evans, MW (Decanter): "Powerful aromas of fine oak. Arrives crisp, fresh and smooth, swelling to redcurrant and red cherry. Very youthful still, full-bodied and round, but always remaining crisp and fresh. Tannins are firm but well-balanced. Promising a long life ahead but remarkably approachable now. 2014 followed a mild winter with a warmer spring and summer. Yield 25.2hl/ha. One of the first years with the influence of new technical director Gonzalo Iturriaga. One year in new barrels, six months in used barrels, then three and a half years in large-format tanks. Bottled May 2020. Tasted from magnum. Drinking Window: 2028-2048. (9/6/22)"

97 points Joaquín Hidalgo (Vinous): "The 2014 Unico is primarily composed of Tempranillo with an additional 6% dash of Cabernet Sauvignon, both sourced from the eponymous property in Ribera del Duero. Aged at length in barrels and large oak vats, the combination of aging methods brings out the wine's nuances in what was a generous year. A dark garnet-red in the glass. The aromas offer licorice and cedar notes alongside hints of orange peel, petit four, cola and pine. There's a background of ripe dark fruit. The palate is dry and plush with a chalky texture and supple tannins, contributing to the complex character. A nuanced red just at the beginning of its life. Drink: 2023-2040. (Nov 2023)"

97 points/'Podium Award,' Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "(95% tempranillo, 5% cabernet sauvignon). Elegant, exuberant. Colour: dark-red cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, fruit preserve, aged wood nuances, tobacco, sweet spices. Palate: spicy, round tannins, long. (2024)"