ALION Tempos Vega Sicilia - Ribera del Duero 2020 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
The 2020 Alión is a standout wine from Ribera del Duero, showcasing elegance and finesse despite the challenges posed by the vintage. Scoring 95 points from The Wine Advocate, it embodies balance and freshness, resulting from careful vineyard management and a focus on optimal ripeness. The blend of 100% Tempranillo reflects the rich terroir, featuring prominent blackberries, black olives, and hints of iron and earthy undertones. James Suckling awarded it 94 points, praising its polished texture and savory finish that promises to soften with age. Vinous rated it 93 points, noting alluring aromas of sour cherry and blackberry, alongside wild herbs and a chalky palate, demonstrating Vega Sicilia’s modern approach. With a drinking window from 2025 to 2035, this sophisticated wine offers notable aging potential.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
The 2020 Alión is a remarkable vintage that stands out for its elegance and finesse, crafted from 100% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino). Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, this wine captures the delicate, deep, and spicy characteristics of the year.

The previous growing season experienced warmer temperatures contributing to good lignification, while normal spring conditions with adequate rainfall ensured a healthy budbreak. The harvest was marked by some rain, which diluted the fruit, necessitating a careful waiting period for the grapes to re-concentrate before picking. This resulted in wines that are more vertical, balanced, and fresh, showcasing the estate’s commitment to quality despite the challenging conditions.

Alión vineyards are located in the premium areas of Ribera del Duero, where the soils work in harmony with the winemaking process used at Vega Sicilia. The 2020 vintage utilized a slightly increased proportion of American oak (4%) and incorporated concrete to improve the wine's verticality and freshness.

The Wine Advocate rated the 2020 Alión 95 points, noting that this vintage offers better balance and freshness, with ripe skins allowing for more extraction. The wine is described as subtle and elegant, featuring refined tannins, achieving a delicate yet structured profile that reflects the vintage conditions.

James Suckling awarded it 94 points, highlighting the finesse and polish of the wine, which showcases blackberries, black olives, and iron notes. The medium to full-bodied structure, with slightly chewy tannins and a savoury finish, suggests that it will soften nicely with time.

Vinous rated it 93 points, emphasizing its complex profile with aromas of sour cherry, blackberry, and wild herbs. The palate is dry and chalky, exhibiting a rich, taut mouthfeel that precedes a polished and smooth finish, illustrating Vega Sicilia's modern approach to the Ribera del Duero region.

Overall, the 2020 Alión is a stunning vintage that promises to evolve beautifully over the coming years, making it a great addition to any wine collection. Ideal for pairing with hearty dishes, this wine encapsulates the essence of the region while showcasing the artistry of its producers.

Covid-19 made 2020 a challenging vintage, but the wines are delicate, deep and spicy. This Alión stands out for its elegance and finesse.

100% TEMPRANILLO (TINTO FINO)

The Vintage
The previous cycle ended with warmer temperatures than normal and the weather conditions enabled good lignification. Normal spring temperatures with precipitation enabled budbreak to occur as normal during the second fortnight of April, with no frosts recorded. There was some rain during harvest.

Description
Alión comes from carefully selected terroirs located in the very best areas of the Ribera del Duero DO region. The soils complement each other and allied with the same winemaking process used in Vega Sicilia, they have produced wines with a firm structure.

2020 was a drier vintage than normal, the grapes were very healthy but heavy rains in September diluted the fruit so it was necessary to wait for the grapes to re concentrate before harvesting. The resulting wines were more vertical, balanced and fresh. The proportion of American oak used was increased 4% this vintage. Concrete was used in a proportion of this vintage to improve the verticality and freshness of the wines

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95 points
Reviewed by: Luis Gutiérrez
Drink Date: 2025 - 2035
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. In 2020, they produced 285,485 bottles of this wine, 7,115 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in May 2022.

Alión started using oak foudres for the élevage of the wine in the 2020 vintage, the one released in 2024.

JAMES SUCKLING 94 Points ****
16 Aug, 2023 – 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.

VINOUS 93 points
The 2020 Alión is made with grapes from several different plots in Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero and was aged in barrels and foudres, with a small portion going into concrete vats. Garnet-red in hue. The aromas feature notes of sour cherry and blackberry, along with wild herbs and undergrowth. The palate is dry and chalky, with mild freshness and a rich, taut mouthfeel that precedes a polished, smooth, long-lasting and complex finish. This is Vega Sicilia's modern approach to Ribera del Duero. - Joaquín Hidalgo

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ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
Vega Sicilia is one of the most prestigious and iconic wineries in Spain, renowned for producing exceptional wines that are synonymous with quality and excellence. Founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, the estate is situated in the Ribera del Duero region, where it has built a reputation for crafting world-class red wines, particularly its flagship cuvée, Único.

The vineyard spans over 200 hectares of prime land with diverse soil types, including gravel and clay, which contribute to the complexity and character of the wines. Vega Sicilia primarily focuses on Tempranillo, known locally as Tinto Fino, along with small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The estate's commitment to meticulous vineyard management ensures that the grapes achieve optimal ripeness and flavour, resulting in wines that are rich, elegant, and age-worthy.

Vega Sicilia’s winemaking philosophy emphasizes tradition and quality, employing a combination of modern techniques and time-honoured practices. The wines undergo careful fermentation in stainless steel and oak tanks, followed by aging in fine oak barrels for extended periods. This process allows for the development of intricate flavours and aromas, with Único particularly noted for its deep complexity, rich fruit character, and remarkable aging potential.

Sustainability is also a key focus at Vega Sicilia, with practices aimed at preserving the environment and the unique terroir of the region. The winery actively engages in eco-friendly initiatives to maintain the health of the vineyards and their surrounding ecosystem.

Over the years, Vega Sicilia has received international acclaim and numerous accolades, cementing its place among the elite producers of fine wine. Each bottle tells a story of the estate's rich heritage, craftsmanship, and dedication to quality, inviting wine enthusiasts to experience the grandeur of Ribera del Duero. Whether savoured on its own or paired with gourmet cuisine, wines from Vega Sicilia offer a luxurious journey through Spain's viticultural heart, celebrating the artistry and passion that define this remarkable estate.