Vega Sicilia, 1973 Red Wine

Unico Gran Reserva

Bottle size: 75cl

ABV: 14%

Price:

£995.00

Free delivery on orders over £100 (UK Standard 3-5 day)

Free vintage report, tasting notes and message

3 month replacement guarantee

IWC UK Fortified Retailer of the Year 2024

5 Star Customer Service - Trusted Shops (4K+ reviews)

Description

Vintage & Background
A wine from Spain’s most celebrated estate, Vega Sicilia’s flagship Único stands among the great red wines of the world. The 1973 vintage comes from a less heralded yet still noteworthy year in Ribera del Duero, where the estate coaxed a refined, mature expression from primarily Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon and other varieties. This wine spent extended time ageing in oak and bottle before release, and now, more than five decades on, shows the depth and complexity that mark truly historic Old World reds.

Appearance & Nose
In the glass, the colour remains elegant ruby with brick tones at the rim, a testament to both age and pedigree. The bouquet is complex and mature, revealing aromas of dried plum, dark cherry, leather, and cedar, with layers of tobacco leaf, truffle, and subtle spice. Hints of forest floor and savoury herb nuances lend additional intrigue, while tertiary notes speak to long bottle age.

Palate & Texture
On the palate the wine is medium-bodied yet richly layered, combining ripe but evolved red and dark fruit with savoury, earthy elements. Silky, refined tannins and lively acidity keep the weight poised rather than heavy, while nuanced flavours of leather, cedar, dried fig, and gentle spice develop through the mid-palate. The texture is elegant and harmonious, leading into a long, nuanced finish with lingering hints of tobacco, forest floor, and spice.

Maturity & Drinking Window
After more than 50 years in bottle, the 1973 Único is fully mature, showcasing tertiary complexity and a poised balance between fruit, acidity, and savoury depth. Bottles in excellent storage can continue to offer fascinating complexity for a few more years, but this is a wine to be enjoyed now for its expressive, aged character.

Serving & Pairing Suggestions
Serve at 16–18 °C in large Bordeaux-style glasses to capture aromatics and texture. It pairs superbly with braised beef cheeks, slow-roasted lamb, game bird with herbs, aged Manchego, or rich mushroom dishes — occasions that allow the wine’s savoury complexity to shine.

Condition

Very top shoulder level- Bin soiled label

Upgrade this item with a Luxury Gift Package

Gold Cardboard Presentation Box - £4.45

Single bottle cardboard presentation box. Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit a 75cl bottle (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

Single Bottle Black Wooden Box with Sliding Lid - £7.95

Sliding lid wooden gift box with straw lining. Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit a 75cl bottle (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

Single Bottle Dark Mocha Leather Effect Gift Box with Silk Liner - £11.95

Send your wine in a beautiful silk-lined, Dark Mocha Leather Effect gift box.
Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit a 75cl bottle (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

2 bottle Wooden Gift Box - £11.95

Create a unique gift package with our two bottle wooden gift box with sliding lid.

Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit two 75cl bottles (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

Deluxe Gift box with Accessories - £14.95

Send your wine in a beautiful silk-lined gift Box with an accessories set inlaid into the lid. Includes: Corkscrew; Wine Pourer; Thermometer and Wine Stopper.

Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit a 75cl bottle (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

Two Bottle Dark Mocha Leather Effect Gift Box with Silk Liner - £15.95

Create a unique gift package with our luxury Dark Mocha Leather Effect presentation box with silk liners.

Select this option for your first wine and then standard packaging for the remaining wine.

Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit two 75cl bottles (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).

Three Bottle Wooden Wine Gift Box - £16.95

Select this option for your first wine and then standard packaging for the remaining two bottles.

Includes tasting notes and a personal message (can be input in the Personal Gift Message Box at the basket stage).
***Please note this product is manufactured to fit three75cl bottles (50cl and 37.5cl bottles can also be packaged inside this box).