Vega Sicilia Reserva Especial 2008, released in 2008, is a blend of some of the best Vega Sicilia vintages of recent years, 1990, 1991 and 1996.  Total number of bottles produced 15,530.

This limted edition Vega Sicilia wine is purple in colour, with nose of toasted bread, smoked ham, cigar box, creme de cassis and cherry liqueur. The palate is full, powerful and concentrated, with flavours of dark cherry, plum, blackcurrant, figs, vanilla and cream, supported by a prominent acidity and tannins.

Best served with beef, lamb or game. 

The Vega Sicilia vineyards are located in Valbuena de Duero, in the province of Valladolid, on an estate on a fertile plain that follows the course of the river. The Sicilia vineyard was first planted in the 1860s by Señor Locanda who introduced Bordelais varieties to the region along with the local Tinto Fino (Tempranillo). Since 1983 Vega Sicilia has been owned by the Alvarez family.  The estate has a plantation of 250 hectares of vineyard, comprising 80% Tinto Fino and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. The soils are clay-limestone and alluvial. Yields are strictly limited to 22 hl/ha which ends up as just 2 kilos of grapes per vine.

Three styles of Vega Sicilia wine are made. Good cuvées are bottled as Valbuena and released onto the market after 5 years - typically one year in large wood casks, 3 years in barrels and a year in bottle. Valbuena tends to include a larger proportion of Merlot in the blend than the even more structured Unico.  The finest cuvées are aged first in large wood and then for many years in small barrels until judged ready for bottling. These wines are designated Unico and are only released following a minimum maturation period of 10 years combined in barrel and bottle. Some barrels of these very finest cuvées are kept back and much later on blended together for inclusion in the Reserva Especial.