Wine Along The 101
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    • 2023 Articles >
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour 2022, A Brief Look at the Complex World of Italian Wine
      • A Night of Sicilian Wine, Spotlighting Cambria and Madaudo Wineries
      • Yealands Wines, “Think Boldly, Tread Lightly”, Leading the World Toward Sustainable Winemaking
    • 2022 Articles >
      • Further Defining the Single Vineyard Cru Wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, the Rise of the MGA
      • The Barolo Cru Wines of Beni di Batasiolo
      • Pyros Wines Sparks World-Class Malbec
      • AlloraVino Imports, a Love Affair with Italian Wine
      • Maisons Marques & Domaines Wine Portfolio: Prestige, Glamour and Good Taste for the Holidays
      • The Original Balsamic Vinegar of Modena PGI, a Condiment and a Culture
      • Rocca delle Macìe, Taking Chianti Classico to New Heights
      • Alluring and Iconic, The World of Chianti Wines
      • Paso Robles Weaves a Thrilling Tapestry of World-Class Wine
      • LXV Wines, The Spice of Paso Robles
      • The Mouthwatering Sauvignon Blancs of Chile
      • The Wines of Portugal, Discover a World of Difference
      • Domaines Albert Bichot, An Exceptional Approach to Burgundian Wine
      • The Wines of Abruzzo Undergo a Renaissance of Quality
      • Ketcham Estate, Exceptional Wines From The Heart of the Russian River Valley
      • La Rioja Alta, S.A., Innovation and Tradition That Stands the Test of Time
      • Vega Sicilia Celebrates 40 Years of Winemaking Excellence
      • Planeta of Sicily Embraces the Past While Reaching For the Future
      • The Spirit of Renaissance is Alive and Well in “South of Somewhere”
      • Gambero Rosso Returns to LA, With the Best of Italian Wines
      • Falanghina and Aglianico del Taburno, Sannio's Ancient Wine Stars
      • Tablas Creek Vineyard Embraces Regenerative Organic Farming
    • 2021 Articles >
      • Make Merry With Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines
      • Discover These Enchanting Italian Wines, From the Fog of Piedmont to the Island Breezes of Sardinia
      • Rodney Strong Vineyards and Winery, Revitalizing an Iconic Brand
      • Thanksgiving Tips for the Best Wine and Food Pairing
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wine Country Oasis
      • Escape to Paso Robles, a Wonderland of Wine
      • Smith-Madrone Wines, a Napa Valley Pioneer Celebrates Fifty Years of Excellence
      • Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Land of Pinot Noir
      • Irvine & Roberts Vineyards, Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Southern Oregon
      • BARRA of Mendocino Wines, an Original Organic Wine Play
      • The Opulent and Thrilling Wines of Denner Vineyards
      • L’Ecole No. 41, Expressive Wines That Pass the Test of Time With Flying Colors
      • France's Loire Valley, a Fairytale Land of Storybook Castles and Magical Wines
      • Craft Wine, Shining the Spotlight on America’s Small Wine Producers
    • 2020 Articles >
      • Margerum Wine Company, the Nexus of Sublime Santa Barbara County Wines
      • Catena Zapata, Malbec on High
      • Long Meadow Ranch, the Circle of Life in a Glass of Wine
      • Fontanafredda Barolo Forges a New Future
      • Bordeaux Wine 2017, Surprises in a Challenging Vintage
    • 2019 Articles >
      • The Rising Wine Country of Southern Oregon's Rogue Valley
      • Discover Ashland and the Rogue Valley, Southern Oregon's Serenade to the Good Life
      • Napa Valley Grille, New Fall Menu Paired with European Wines
      • Embrace Your Wine Geek with PRIE Winery & Vineyards
      • Castello di Albola, Chianti Classico on High
      • Nicolas-Jay Wines, the Journey of a Lifetime
      • The Expanding Complexity of New Zealand Wine
      • Prosecco DOC, Splendor in the Glass
      • On the Oregon Wine Trail
      • Albariño and Rioja Star in Spain’s Great Match
      • Exciting and Eclectic, the Wines of Alentejo
      • Blaufränkisch Propels the Red Wines of Austria Into the Spotlight
      • Fascinating Greek Wines of the Cava Spiliadis Collection
      • Revolution In Rioja Wine
    • 2018 Articles >
      • Temecula Valley Celebrates 50 Years of Winemaking
      • The Stellar Wines of Sardinia
      • Italian Wines Prescribed by Doctor Wine
      • The Alluring Wines of Tunisia
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2018
      • Velenosi Wines, From Le Marche to the World
      • Sauvignon Blanc, a Rising Star in Napa Valley
      • Frank Family Vineyards Celebrates 25 Years
      • Markus Wine Co., Sleek New Red Wines Up the Ante for Lodi Reds
      • Lodi Wine, Over 100 Varieties Strong
      • Ramona Valley Wine Country, an Up and Coming Wine Region
      • Hertelendy Vineyards, the Pursuit of Excellence
      • Napa Valley Wine, Nirvana in a Bottle
      • Wine Stroll: Explore Downtown Paso Robles Wineries
      • The Beautiful Shades of Lodi Rosé Wines
      • Doubling Down on Gold Medal Wines: The San Francisco International Wine Competition
      • The Exotic Wines of Lebanon
      • Australian Wines, Rediscover the New Frontier
      • New Zealand Wines, Expanding beyond Sauvignon Blanc
      • Visit France in 2018, a Feast of Food, Wine, Culture and History
      • Bordeaux Wine 2015, A Very Good Year
      • Portugal's Treasure Chest of Wines
      • Livermore Valley, California’s Original Wine Country Reborn
      • Concannon and Wente Vineyards, California’s Pioneers of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay
      • Livermore Valley Wine Country, the Future Looks Bright
    • 2017 Articles >
      • Viña Ardanza Rioja Turns 75, an Enchanting Wine Gets Even Better
      • The VIP Sparkle of Prosecco Superiore
      • Lodi Wine Country, Seriously Good Wine From A to Z
      • Lodi Wine Country, Old Vines and Great Wines
      • Lodi Wine Country, Winegrowers and Winemakers Focused on the Future
      • Lugana White Wine, Better With Age
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip to LA
      • Sweetzer Cellars, a Life Changing Journey of Wine
      • Lugana and Valpolicella, the Yin and Yang of the Veneto
      • Three R’s of Summer Wine, Rosé, Riesling, and Ramato
      • Familia Martínez Bujanda, Wines Without Borders
      • Codorníu Cava, the Ars and Anna Collection
      • New and Exciting Wines from the 2017 Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration
      • Sensual Delights on Display at Savor Italy Los Angeles
      • Pizza and Franco Pepe, Italy’s Best Comes to LA
      • Montes Wines, Wisdom in Wine From Father to Son
      • Passionate Pinot Noir Lovers Unite at the 2017 World of Pinot
      • Vignalta, Wines of the Highest Order
      • Santa Lucia Highlands Sensational Wines
      • Gambero Rosso’s Top Italian Wines for 2017
      • Law Estate Wines: Quality by Design
      • Taittinger and Calvisius: Champagne and Caviar Dreams
      • Riding High on American Rhone Wines, The Rhone Rangers LA Tasting
      • Discover Monterey Wine Country, wine and so much more
      • Wines of Portugal, the Perfect Dinner Companion
      • Gruet's Enchanting Sparkling Wines
    • 2016 Articles >
      • The Art of Italian Living, SoCal Style
      • Wines of Alsace: Perfect for the Holidays
      • Oso Libre Winery; Vines, Wines, and Angus Beef
      • Best Wines for Thanksgiving
      • Simply Italian Great Wines US Tour Sweeps Through Los Angeles
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Chardonnay
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Pinot Noir
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Rhône Varietals
      • Santa Barbara Winemakers Road Trip: Bordeaux Varietals
      • Achaval-Ferrer, Exceptional Wines from Argentina
      • Celebration of Harvest Grand Tasting 2016 Highlights
      • The Celebrity Sparkle of Ferrari Trento Wines
      • Santa Barbara Wine Country’s Celebration of Harvest 2016
      • The Garagiste Festival, Off the Beaten Path Wines
      • Explore SLO Wine Country, Central California’s Hidden Gem
      • Byron Winery, The Grand Pinot Noir Experiment
      • Crocker & Starr Wines, Organically Elegant
      • Escape to Santa Maria Wine Country
      • The Elegant White Wines of Domäne Wachau
      • Champagne Palmer: The New Champagne on the Block
      • Holman Ranch & Vineyards: Making Memories & Wine at Romantic California Hideaway
      • Luminous Wines of France's Loire Valley
    • Examiner.com Articles >
      • Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyards: Wines Without Compromise
      • All Stars of Pinot Noir Rock the 2016 World of Pinot
      • Ampelos Wines' Biodynamic Brilliance
      • Artisan Uprising: Blood Into Wine
      • Bodegas Beronia Rioja: The Magic of Oak
      • Crawford Family Wines: Unlocking Varietal Flavor
      • Dolin Malibu Estate Vineyards' Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs Shine Bright
      • Hahn Family Wines: Santa Lucia Highlands' Sweet Spot
      • Kimmel Vineyards: Good Wine Flows from Challenging Times
      • Larner Vineyard: Sweet Spot for Syrah and Grenache
      • LOCA for Lodi Wine
      • Lompoc Wine Ghetto
      • Sanford Winery & Vineyards, Delicious Wines That Tell a Tale
      • The Diverse and Divine Wines of Santa Barbara County
      • Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail
      • The Stellar Wines of California's Sta. Rita Hills
      • Skinner Vineyards, Destiny and Determination
      • Wines of Portugal, The Art of the Blend
  • Wine Reviews
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. 2021 Sauvignon Blanc, in Can and Bottle
    • Coen Malbec Reserve 2019, a New World Wine with Old World Sensibilities
    • Sangre de Toro Rosé, A Light and Bright Summer Thirst Quencher
    • Summer and Sauvignon Blanc, Lucky Rock Wine Co. Style
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2019
    • Monte Velho, Fascinating Wines and Value-Priced
    • Grassl Glasses Add Depth to Wine Enjoyment
    • Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé Brut Makes Everyday a Holiday
    • Festive Ferrari Trento Sparkling Wines For All Occasions
    • Bodegas CARO, the Best of Both Worlds
    • Kosher Wines For the Jewish High Holidays Are Highly Recommended Anytime of Year
    • Oak Farm Vineyards, a Rainbow of Delicious Lodi Wines
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2019
    • Ron Rubin Wines, The Dream Series
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. County Cuvée Pinot Noir 2018
    • Lucky Rock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc 2018
    • Crus Bourgeois Bordeaux, Expressive Wines at Everyday Prices
    • Légende Collection of Bordeaux Wines
    • Five Contemporary California Wines To Try
    • Alternative Sparkling Wines For a Celebration
    • A Toast to Prosecco Superiore
    • Celebrate with this Pair of Spanish Red Wines
    • A Quartet of Summer Red Wines
    • Spanish Albariño, a Wine For All Seasons
    • Ciù Ciù Wines, Quality That Shines Through
    • A Trio of Red Wines for Holiday Merrymaking
    • Terre de la Custodia Montefalco Rosso 2012
    • The Sultry Arnaldo Caprai Collepiano Montefalco Sagrantino
    • Pop the Cork on Charles Heidsieck Champagne and Bisol Prosecco
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    • A Pair of Greek Wines for a Spring Feast
    • A Dynamic Duo of Sassy Spanish White Wines
    • Anderra Carménere
    • Artesa Chardonnay/Pinot Noir
    • Avignonesi Grandi Annate
    • Château Saint-Maur Rosé
    • La Miranda de Secastilla, Old Vine Garnacha Gems
    • Intriguing Israeli Wines
    • Leviathan
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    • Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc, intensely refreshing and delicious
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  • Events
    • Garagiste Wine Festival: Urban Exposure 2022 Highlights Hidden California Wine Gems
    • Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival 2019
    • World of Pinot Noir 2019, A Magical Mystery Tour
    • Journey to Planet Pinot at the 2018 World of Pinot Noir
    • Great Wines of Italy Comes to LA
    • Wine Along the Beach at Garagiste Wine Festival 2017
    • Santa Barbara Vintners Spring Weekend Celebration 2017
    • Orbit the World of Pinot Noir at the 2017 World of Pinot
    • Rhone Rangers Los Angeles 2016
  • Wine Travel
  • Videos
    • Celebration of Harvest
    • Feliz Noche Wines
    • Terravant Custom Crush
    • Que Syrah, Shiraz!
    • Paso Robles Wine Festival
    • L'Aventure Syrah Harvest
    • Clos Pepe's Prince of Pinot
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Certain legendary wines have that hush factor, wines that perch at the pinnacle of perfection throughout the vintages, wines that spring from historical vineyards, wines that stand the test of time.  Whisper the name of Tempos Vega Sicilia, one of the most prestigious wineries in the world, and anyone who knows wine will pay attention.  Its coveted Unico wine, considered Spain’s “first growth” is classically elegant, rare to find and expensive to purchase.  But even with such mythical buzz, Vega Sicilia is not content to sit on its success.  The pursuit of perfection is constant, almost obsessively so, and their winery holdings have grown, but not at the expense of excellence.
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Vega Sicilia winery, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
Vega Sicilia is considered the crown jewel of Spanish wine.  Located in Northern Spain in the Ribera del Duero region, it was originally founded in 1864 by Bordeaux-trained Spanish winemaker Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who planted Bordeaux varietals along with local Tempranillo, known as Tinto Fino.  Over the years, various owners bought and sold the estate, until 1982, when David Álvarez purchased the legendary label.  David’s son, Pablo, took over the reins in 1985 as General Manager, then CEO in 1990, and has made it his mission to expand their production of quality wine, always held to the highest standard.
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Vega Sicilia vineyard, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Pintia vineyard, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Macán vineyard, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Oremus wines, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
Pablo Álvarez started out recovering the original vines on the estate, but then immediately pushed forward to modernizing the business and expanding its influence.  Four new wineries were created: Alión in 1991, Oremus in 1993, Pintia in 2001, and Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild-Vega Sicilia in 2009, all unique wines that represent the best of that area, and became pieces of the puzzle that has defined Vega Sicilia.  Each winery brought a different dimension to the brand.  The Hungarian Oremus project is particularly interesting, as they were the first to make a dry Furmint in the history of Tokaj.  The joint venture with Rothschild became crucial as it expanded their international profile.  For Vega Sicilia and Pablo Álvarez, the only way to increase the portfolio is to create new wineries in Spain and around the world where they can produce great wines.  When asked about these lofty goals, Álvarez said, “It’s very easy to say but very difficult to do”, a nod to the quest for quality in all the wines they produce.
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Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
Today, the estate of Vega Sicilia encompasses over 1000 hectares, with 210 of those planted to 24 different clones of Tempranillo grown on 16 soil types.  Under Pablo’s leadership, Vega Sicilia seeks perfection in its winegrowing and winemaking.  Quality is non-negotiable, and with a patient eye to the process, chemical fertilizers and herbicides are banned with the future hope of organic farming, clonal selections are made of all the varietals planted, grapevines must be 10 years old before its fruit is made into wine, and even growing their own cork trees to avoid faulty corks are just a few of the quality controls that add to the well-deserved excellence of the brand.  French and American oak are used in the winemaking, but are made on-site in their own cooperage, another step in ensuring the highest quality.
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Vega Sicilia winery, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Vega Sicilia winery, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
In this 40th year of production under the Álvarez family guidance, Vega Sicilia has achieved many milestones, while maintaining their penchant for quality.  Today, they produce over 1.5 million bottles in their five wineries, of which 70% are exported to over 150 countries around the world.  Sales have increased exponentially, yet Pablo Álvarez isn’t stopping here.  Vega Sicilia announced that a newly created winery, located in Rias Baixas and dedicated to Albariño, will come online next year, with wines bottled in 2025.
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Pablo Álvarez of Vega Sicilia
In Vega Sicilia’s continuous effort to get out the word about their excellent wines, Pablo Álvarez traveled to Los Angeles, and along with Mike Miller of Golden State Wine Co, hosted a trade luncheon at Tesse in West Hollywood.  Over a mind-blowing multi-course meal, accompanied by a full compliment of Vega Sicilia wines, the magnitude of their brilliance was displayed.
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The Oremus Mandolás 2019 is glorious, 100% dry Furmint, with intoxicating aromas of citrus, apple, and a hint of tropical fruit, spice and herbs, a medium bodied savory wine with vibrant acidity, mineral backbone, and a saline character that unfurled on the long finish.  Passed canapés accompanied the wine.
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Tokaj-Oremus winery in Hungary, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Oremus Vineyard, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Oremus cellars, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
The Oremus project came about in 1991, when Hungary began to privatize its wineries in Tokaj.  Viewed as an opportunity to expand Vega Sicilia’s international presence, Pablo made the deal in 1993, and today Tokaj-Oremus has 120 hectares of vineyards, all classified as Grand Cru.  In Tokaj, Furmint traditionally was made as a sweet wine, but Pablo came up with the idea of a dry white wine in addition to the sweet one.  Mandolás was the first dry Furmint from Tokaj, and today, most other Tokaj wineries have followed suit.
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First course, the Macán wines were paired with Pork Secreto, Carrot Purée, Brown Butter, and Boudin Noir.  The 2018 Macán Clásico and the 2017 Macán are powerful, with black cherry, dark berry, sweet spice, and licorice on the nose, and an intense palate of blackberry, cassis, and spice, with a core of fresh minerality encased in a full body with firm tannins.  Both wines are 100% Tempranillo from La Rioja, and they are the same wine, but the Clásico is aged three years before release. They are stunning wines, deep and structured with a very long finish.
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Macán winery, La Rioja, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Macán vineyards, La Rioja, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Macán microfermentation tanks, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Macán cellars, Courtesy of Vega Siciia
The Bodegas Benjamin de Rothschild-Vega Sicilia Macán winery is a 50/50 family venture in La Rioja, that started in secret when both families began acquiring vineyard land over 13 years ago.  In 2013, the two Macán wines were created, Macán and Macán Clásico, grown over 100 hectares of vineyards averaging 30 years old.  Defined as “The Harmony of Beauty”, they are Rioja wine in the very finest sense of the word, elegant and expressive, an authentic vision of a classic wine region by two important winemaking families.
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Second course, Duck Magret with Creamy Polenta, Fresh Herbs, and Duck Jus served as the background for three of Vega Sicilia’s modern style wines, Pintia, Alión, and Valbuena.
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The 2017 Pintia is opulent and juicy, with an intense character and silky texture, channeling blackberry, spice, licorice, and underbrush, smokey and earthy in a delightful way, finishing very long with ripe tannins.
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Pintia vineyards, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Pintia Tinto de Toro grapes hand harvested, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
Pintia’s Tempranillo, or known locally as Tinto de Toro grapes, are grown along the banks of the Douro River in the Toro DO region, in 50-year-old vineyards that yield full-bodied structured wines.  With the first wines coming on line in 2001, there has been a push to make the wines more refined and elegant, with freshness at its core.  Hand-harvested, the grapes are refrigerated for 12 hours to preserve their fruit intensity, then the clusters are gone over twice to remove any defective bunches.  Cold maceration for five days, then malolactic fermentation, all in wood, leads to one year aging in 70% French oak barrel and 30% American oak barrels.  Vega Sicilia has labeled Pintia as “The Talent of Rebelliousness”, defined by its ground-breaking nature in the Toro region.
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The 2018 Alión is very modern in its expression, fleshy, intense, and complex with a red fruit character, spice and toasty wood notes, mesmerizing in its depth of flavor.
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Alión vineyards, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Alión Tinto Fino clusters, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
Alión’s Tinto Fino grapes are grown just 15 kilometers from the Vega Sicilia estate vineyards, from an average of 30-year-old vines.  Hand-harvested, extracted for color and structure, then fermented and aged in new French oak barrels that are made in Bordeaux, but only used once and never again by the winery, the wine ages in bottle for at least 15 months.  Alión was the first winery to be created by Álvarez, and is labeled “Born to Make History”.
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The 2017 Valbuena 5° is voluptuous, dense and layered with an explosive nose of dark berry, chocolate, nutmeg and white pepper, and a savory palate of plum, licorice, wild herbs, black tea and forest floor.  This silky wine is a blend of 94% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 6% Merlot, succulent and balanced, complex with fine-grained tannins, so expressive!
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Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
Valbuena 5° is considered the purest expression of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) within Vega Sicilia, a reflection primarily of the terroir.  Fermented in stainless steel, it is aged for five years, in new and used French and American oak 225-liter barrels, plus large 20,000-liter vats, that is why it is called Valbuena 5°.  This wine is Pablo’s personal favorite, referred to as “The Expression of Time”.
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Third course, Filet Mignon with Pommes Darphin and Beef Jus, the perfect pairing for the star of the lineup, two different vintages of Unico, a wine of mythic proportions.  The 2009 Unico is so beautiful, its complex energy coursed through the glass, taking on a life of its own.  Rich and concentrated, red and dark plums, cherry and blueberry fruit, fresh tobacco, cedar and spice flow on an endless finish.  The 2012 Unico, the newest release, is considered an excellent vintage, and is more defined in its youthful acidity, while promising a timeless evolution of depth, texture, and nuance over time.  Voluptuous with black fruit, spice, meaty and earthy notes, its exhilarating fragrance and generous body drive home its essence.
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Vega Sicilia vineyards, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Harvest, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
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Unico cellars, Courtesy of Vega Sicilia
Forty of the 210 hectares within Vega Sicilia are dedicated to Unico, the flagship of the brand, with the Duero River influencing the soils and microclimates.  Unico is a blend of 94% Tinto Fino and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, the actual percentages vary with the vintage year, with the average age of the vines at 35 years.  Hand-picked and aged for at least ten years in barrel and bottle in new and used French and American oak 225-liter barrels, in addition to those large 20,000-liter tanks, it’s this aging process that gives Unico it’s very long life and style.  It’s an aristocrat among wines, a rare icon that richly deserves its accolades, a “Myth Full of Truth”.
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The Cheese course with Housemade Bread and Chutney allowed the 2014 Oremus Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos to shine.  Aszú, or the “wine of tears”, is only produced in good vintages, when rain toward the end of the growing season allows noble rot to infect the grapes.  It’s a painstaking process, one that has been followed for hundreds of years in the Hungarian tradition, with the 5 puttonyos level balancing mid-level sweetness and vibrant acidity.  Puttonyos refers to how many 25-kg baskets of the individually harvested Aszú grapes are added to the base wine, which is made of a blend of four Hungarian white grape varietals, with Furmint being the most recognizable.  A beautiful golden color, with ripe apricot, grapefruit and honey aromas, Oremus Aszú 5 Puttonyos is complex, rich in its sweetness but at the same time refreshing in its acidity, it’s a perfect dessert wine.
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Respected and admired, Vega Sicilia’s wines are of the highest quality, a result of perfecting each step along the way.  Unico is definitely a thrill, and should be on every wine lover’s once in a lifetime wine list.  Pablo Álvarez continues to guide Vega Sicilia to greater heights, crafting exceptional wines that set the wine world on fire.