Staff Notes:

“Almost 20 years on from the vintage and this Único is full of life, with perfumed aromas and a fresh, textured palate with well-integrated tannin. It was a famously hot year (though the Vega Sicilia notes only say that the summer was warm), but despite that it has avoided cooked fruit. Full and fleshy with a savoury finish - a surprise, given the year. Mild, frost-free spring, warm summer without rains, then a cold harvest in late September. 25 months in large-capacity wooden vats, 17 months in new barrels, 10 months in semi-new barrels, then 22 months back in large-capacity wooden vats. Aged in bottle then released in 2013. 76,050 bottles, 2,616 magnums, 150 double magnums and six Imperials. Tasted from magnum.” 96, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Decanter, Sep 2022 

“Showing some grilled-meat, dried-mint and savory olive notes with balsamic, sour cherries and nutmeg. Polished and velvety on the palate, with a full body and firm, caressing tannins. Rich and delicious combination of ripe fruit, chocolate and savory olive notes throughout, with a fleshy finish. 92% tempranillo and 8% cabernet sauvignon. Tasted from magnum.” 96, James Suckling, Sep 2022 

“2003 was the year of the "canicule" in Europe, an extremely warm summer that made Germans acidify their Rieslings and saw Bordeaux with 40 degrees Celsius during Vinexpo. In that context, the 2003 Único showed surprisingly well. It's tannic, serious and austere, a little in the style of 2005. It's mainly Tempranillo with 8% of Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% alcohol with a warm nose and a softer palate, gentler compared with 2005. 2,616 magnums produced.” 94+, Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, Jan 2023