Professional reviews
Robert Parker (94)
The renowned Unico (produced from 80-100 year old vines) is one of the world's most distinctive, singular wines. Always released late, it is incredibly fresh, and capable of 2-3 more decades of evolution. The sensational 1989 Unico Reserva boasts a dark ruby/purple color as well as a sweet, fragrant bouquet of plums, black currants, vanilla, caramel, and chocolate. It possesses tremendous density, an opulent, textured, full-bodied palate, great purity, and moderate tannin in the 60+ second finish.
Winespectator (90)
This generous red is deeply colored and lively, with plum, prune, tobacco and mineral flavors supported by well-integrated tannins. Balanced, and may still improve.
James Suckling (98)
What an inviting nose of roasted coffee, cardamom, balsamic, blackberries, figs and spice box. It’s full-bodied with ripe, powerful tannins. Compact, with excellent intensity. Lots of power here and it’s still youthful. 80% tempranillo and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Tasted from magnum.
Jancis Robinson (17.50)
80% Tinto Fino, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (very high proportion of Cabernet). Higher than average rainfall during the growing season but dry conditions at (early) harvest (30 September). Post fermentation 2 years in large-capacity wooden vats, then further aged for 16 months in new casks, 3 years in second-use casks and 3 in used casks, then 3 years in a large-capacity wooden vat. 105,860 bottles, 2,632 magnums, 150 double magnums. From magnum.
Slightly dull transparent crimson. Fully evolved and well-melded nose with just a little suggestion of overripeness on the end. Just right to drink now though the fruit is very slightly starting to fade on the finish.
Vinous (95)
Saturated dark, fresh red. Exotic dried fruits complicated by minerals, cedar, cigar box and nuts on the nose. Huge, dense and solid, with great sappy redcurrant and wild strawberry sweetness buffered by powerful acids. With its huge concentration and extraordinarily chewy extract, this has fruit of steel. The wine's explosive, extremely long finish and great thrust go beyond 99.99% of the world's wines.
Decanter (97)
Full-bodied and fleshy, with dark plum compote fruit overlaid by dark chocolate, menthol and a little spice; impressively complex. Cold and wet winter, warm spring with average to high rainfall before an early harvest (30 September), which was dry with high temperatures. After fermentation, the wine spent two years in large-capacity wooden vats, 16 months in new casks, three years in semi-new casks, three years in used casks and another three years in large-capacity wooden vats, then aged in bottle. 105,860 bottles, 2,632 magnums and 150 double magnums. Tasted from magnum.
Rene Gabriel (19)
Rene Gabriel rates this wine 19/20 points.
BOW (8.50)
Falstaff (94)
