Vega Sicilia, Unico 2016

Wine Type: Red

Grape(s): 96% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon

Country: Spain

Region: Ribera del Duero

Organic: No

Vegan: No

ABV: 14.5%

Winemaker: Unico 2016 marks a defining moment for  Vega Sicilia - the first full vintage crafted under the direction of Gonzalo Iturriaga de Juan as technical director.

Winemaking: The arrival of Gonzalo Iturriaga de Juan to Vega Sicilia in 2016 marked a subtle but important evolution in the estate’s approach, with a clear focus on precision, vineyard expression and balance. The 2016 has already been recognised as an outstanding release, receiving 98 points in Tim Atkin MW’s Ribera del Duero Report (2025). Its stature reflects both the quality of the year and the direction set under new technical leadership, establishing it as an instant classic within the recent history of the estate.

Unico sits at the top of the Vega Sicilia range and is produced only from the estate’s most revered plots. It follows one of the longest ageing regimes of any Spanish wine, progressing through a sequence of oak barrels, large wooden vats and extended bottle ageing before release. During its first year, the wine is assessed for structure and firmness to determine whether it will continue as Unico or be directed towards Valbuena. Wines that remain in the Unico line move through several years of slow maturation in large wooden vats. A small proportion of wine from other harvests may be used to fine-tune balance, but the identity of the principal vintage remains central.  

Unico 2016 is a fragrant, understated and elegant expression of its vintage. The nose reveals a complex character that blossoms in the glass, gradually unfolding its subtleties.

2016 began with light frosts and a mild winter. A cool spring delayed budbreak. Intense August heat slowed vine growth until cooler nights arrived. Harvest ran from 22nd September to 11th October.

Tasting Notes: Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, January 2026 - 95 points - "This is the youngest expression of the "Vega" nose, subtler and elegant, more insinuating, less developed and keeping some primary notes, not as tertiary as the Únicos. It comes in at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.85 and 4.65 grams of acidity, and it has a medium- to full-bodied palate, with elegant tannins and very good balance. This is one of the finest recent vintages for Valbuena, and in a way, it reminded me of the 2010, with elegance and precision. A total of 176,876 bottles, 5,566 magnums and some larger formats were produced. It was bottled in May 2024. Drink 2027-2039."