Vega Sicilia Alion, Ribera del Duero 2020

Critical Acclaim: 95 pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 pts James Suckling, 93 pts Wine Spectator

"2020 was drier than average until the harvest, when it rained and diluted the grapes, and they had to wait to regain concentration. The result is that the 2020 Alión is a wine with better balance and freshness. They felt the skins were very ripe and they could extract more and use a little more American oak (4%) in the élevage. From 2019, they kept the press wine separate until June, and they keep separate quantities of press wines that are aged in different containers depending on the quality of the wine. They used a percentage of concrete and oak vats for the élevage, which gives the wine more verticality and freshness. It's a subtle and elegant Alión, not as dense as some other vintages, but with nice balance and very elegant tannins. Drinking Window: 2025-2035"- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. 

"There’s a finesse and polish to this red with blackberries, black olives, iron and terra-cotta. Medium to full body, with slightly chewy tannins and a savory finish. It will soften nicely with time. Try after 2025."- James Suckling.

"A graceful red, with a pure beam of crème de cassis gliding across the plush palate, accented by notes of sassafras, pomegranate, tar-tinged smoke and dried sage. This is well-tailored, offering fine-grained, sculpted tannins that provide form, plus pretty hints of violet and spices that linger on the lush finish. Drink now through 2034." - Wine Spectator

About the Wine:  Alión is the result of a careful selection of terroirs located in the best areas of DO Ribera del Duero. Soils that complement each other and the same viticultural practices used at Vega Sicilia produce wines with a firm structure.  The 2020 vintage was drier than others right up to the harvest. The grapes were very healthy, but the heavy rains in September marked the vintage and diluted the fruit. We had to wait for the grapes to re-concentrate before harvesting, but the resulting wines were more vertical, balanced and fresh. We were able to extract more because the skins were highly polymerised, allowing us to increase the proportion of American oak by 4%.  The use of concrete helped us to improve the verticality and freshness of the wines. Covid made 2020 a challenging vintage, but the wines are delicate, deep and spicy. This Alión stands out for its elegance and finesse.

Varietal: Tempranillo.