By Pablo Alvarez
The art of time
An Extraordinary Journey Through Spanish Wine History
Wine has always been part of my life. Growing up surrounded by the world of Spanish wine, I came to understand from an early age that a great bottle is much more than the expression of a vineyard or a particular vintage. It is also a reflection of its time, of the people who made it, and of the patience required to allow it to evolve.
Over the years, I have developed a particular fascination for historic bottles. Beyond their rarity or their value, what interests me most is the story they carry: the circumstances in which they were produced, the generations they have crossed, and the collectors who have preserved them.
This is what makes the collection presented in our forthcoming online "wine o’clock" auction at Baghera/wines particularly meaningful to me.
Assembled by a Spanish collector and carefully preserved in a traditional underground cellar, it brings together some of the most remarkable names in the history of Spanish wine. From the earliest vintages of Vega Sicilia Único to the legendary wines of Rioja, and even the rare Chartreuse produced in Tarragona, these bottles offer a fascinating journey through more than a century of history.
Vega Sicilia: the expression of time
At the heart of this collection lies an exceptional selection of Vega Sicilia Único.
For me, Único has always represented a particular understanding of time. It is a wine that cannot be hurried, whose identity has been shaped by patience, tradition and the conviction that greatness often requires waiting.
The presence of bottles from 1918 and 1923 is particularly striking. These wines were born in a world profoundly different from our own, at a time when the international reputation of Spanish fine wine was still taking shape. Their historical significance alone makes them fascinating.
But the collection also allows us to explore the evolution of Único through some of its most celebrated vintages, including 1948, 1953, 1962 and 1970.
Reading the tasting notes left by Serena Sutcliffe and José Peñín, one is reminded of the remarkable complexity that these wines can develop over time.
Sutcliffe’s description of the 1948 evokes an almost delicate aromatic world of anise, violets, sweet plums and roses. Her impressions of the 1953 suggest a different dimension, one of extraordinary richness and sensuality.
Yet it is perhaps the legendary 1962 that best illustrates the singular character of Único.
In her tasting notes, Sutcliffe describes a wine of remarkable freshness, with mineral nuances, walnuts, chocolate and peppermint, whose complexity reveals itself gradually. José Peñín, meanwhile, evokes spices, cocoa, tobacco and a beautifully velvety palate.
These descriptions are particularly meaningful because they show that the greatness of a mature wine is not simply measured by its longevity. It lies in its capacity to evolve, to reveal new dimensions and to preserve its identity across decades.
The collection includes Único 1962 in both bottle and magnum, offering a fascinating opportunity to encounter one of the estate’s most emblematic vintages.
Another remarkable chapter is represented by the Único Reserva Especial, a wine that embodies an almost philosophical approach to time. By bringing together wines from different outstanding vintages, Vega Sicilia creates something that transcends the expression of a single harvest.
Among the historic blends featured in the auction are combinations of 1965, 1967 and 1972, as well as 1973 and 1981. They remind us that time, in the hands of a great winemaker, can become an essential part of creation itself.
And then there is the extraordinary double magnum of Único 1994, numbered 137 of only 150 produced. Beyond its rarity, it represents another dimension of collecting: the pursuit of bottles that are exceptional not only for the wine they contain, but also for their format and history.
Rioja: a living memory of Spanish winemaking
While Vega Sicilia occupies a central place in this collection, the great wines of Rioja tell an equally compelling story.
Names such as López de Heredia, CVNE and Marqués de Murrieta evoke an era when Spanish winemaking developed its own distinctive interpretation of elegance, ageing and tradition.
Historic bottles of Viña Tondonia, Viña Bosconia, Imperial, Viña Real and Castillo de Ygay provide a remarkable perspective on the evolution of Rioja throughout the twentieth century.
What I find especially fascinating about these wines is their ability to connect us with a different understanding of winemaking. Long ageing periods, traditional cellar practices and a profound respect for continuity helped shape an identity that remains unmistakable today.
These bottles are not merely witnesses to the past. They are part of the cultural heritage of Spanish wine.
Tarragona: an unexpected chapter
One of the most intriguing aspects of the collection lies beyond wine itself.
The presence of rare Chartreuse produced in Tarragona recalls a fascinating period in the history of the Carthusian monks, when the legendary French liqueur found a temporary home on Spanish soil.
These historic bottlings, including the distinctive yellow Fabiola, have become particularly sought after by collectors.
Their inclusion adds an unexpected dimension to the auction, connecting the history of Spanish cellars with a broader European tradition of craftsmanship, patience and secrecy.
The collector’s legacy
Ultimately, what gives this collection its identity is not simply the presence of great names or extraordinary vintages.
It is the vision of the person who assembled it.
A collection built over time reflects choices, discoveries, personal affinities and, above all, the desire to preserve something meaningful for the future.
As an auction house, we have the privilege of bringing such collections into the light, studying their history and presenting them to a new generation of enthusiasts.
And perhaps that is the most beautiful aspect of collecting: knowing that the story of a great bottle does not end with the person who acquired it.
It continues.
On 29 October 2026, our online "wine o’clock" auction #129 will offer collectors an opportunity to become part of that continuing story.
Because great wines belong not only to the past, but also to the future.
