Intense cherry red with slight mahoganies rims. Shiny and vivacious. Well preserved strength from the antocians. Complex and elegant aroma. The fruity aromas conjugate with fine wood and esterification, due to his its long aging. Smooth and balanced flavor. It shows the elegance of the old wines, preserving the vivacity of the young ones. Complex, tasty flavor and of great persistence.
What the critics say...
Wine Spectator: 93 points(15/05/1998)
This beautiful red from Spain would put many a Bordeaux from the same vintage to shame. It s got a deep, youthful color, alluring spice and cherry pie aromas and a supple yet concentrated palate with cherry, spice and tobacco flavors. The tannins are softening, yet will still match with food, and the finish is long and spicy. Drink now through 2005.
Robert Parker: 95 points(01/04/1998)
Spain s most consistently great winery continues to turn out exciting wines. There are four Unico Reservas currently in the market. The 1981 Unico Reserva is more restrained than the 1982 or 1985, with a personality similar to a classic Medoc (i.e., Lafite-Rothschild). Lead pencil, tar, smoke, black currant, and weedy tobacco notes are followed by a medium-bodied wine with beautiful fruit, a supple texture, and a long finish. While not as flamboyant or expansive as either the 1982 or 1985, it is a classy, complex offering with an intriguing lead pencil/smoky note in its aromatics, flavor, and finish. It should drink well for 10-15 years.
In 1864, Eloy Lecanda founded the winery that symbolizes the golden legend of Spanish red wine. Throughout its long history, it has belonged to different owners, although it has always maintained an unquestionable personality, making concentrated, mature, generous and extremely elegant. The... current stage began in 1982, when El Enebro S.A., a company owned by the Álvarez Mezquíriz family, acquired the winery and the vineyards from the Venezuelan businessman Miguel Neumann. From that year onwards, the family, with David Álvarez and his sons and daughters Pablo, Jesús David, María José, Emilio, Juan Carlos, Elvira and Marta, have developed a policy of harmonization of present innovative techniques required by the wine sector with the traditional winemaking process. The vineyard area has been extended and the vineyards and vines, which were almost half a century old, have been replanted in rotation.
