ALION Tempos Vega Sicilia - Ribera del Duero 2021 Bottle

Description

Alión 2021 is a captivating expression of Ribera del Duero, seamlessly blending youthful vibrancy with complexity, making it an ideal choice for both immediate enjoyment and cellaring. Crafted exclusively from 100% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), this wine showcases grapes sourced from diverse terroirs across 13 villages, including the renowned Vega Sicilia estate. The Wine Advocate awarded it an impressive 96 points, praising its freshness, elegant tannins, and a medium-bodied profile with ripe concentration. James Suckling rated it 95 points for its harmonious blend of dark cherries, fine spices, and chocolate, complemented by chalky tannins and a lasting finish. Decanter also scored it 95 points, highlighting its intriguing savoury notes and vibrant character. With a drinking window from 2025 to 2040, Alión 2021 promises an exceptional journey of flavour and refinement.

*****

Alión 2021 combines youthful vibrancy with complexity, making it perfect for both immediate enjoyment and cellaring.

100% TEMPRANILLO (TINTO FINO)
Alión originates from carefully selected terroirs in the finest areas of the Ribera del Duero DO region. This wine is a mosaic of Ribera’s diverse personalities, made with grapes from vineyards stretching from Soria in the east to Valbuena de Duero in the west, including the renowned Vega Sicilia estate.

Alión 2021 exudes youthful vibrancy. Aged for 12 months in barrel, concrete, and oak vats, followed by 18 months in bottle, the result is a harmonious and refined wine. While it will truly begin to shine in a few years, Alión 2021 has the potential to evolve gracefully over the next 10–15 years. This vintage exemplifies balance, silkiness, and depth, making it equally compelling for
immediate enjoyment or cellaring.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 96 points
Drink Date: 2025 - 2040
The vintage released in 2025 is the 2021 Alión, a year to remember, one of the best in recent times; it was relaxed and textbook in all senses, with snow in the beginning of the year, a mild spring disturbed only by frost in Pesquera that didn't affect other villages, a relatively cool summer that slowed things down, and the grapes ripened to perfection without rain after September. They used grapes from 13 different villages throughout the Ribera del Duero, 130 hectares. The grapes are cooled down for 24 hours, and once destemmed, they are put in the oak and stainless steel vats, where they undergo a five-day cold soak and then native fermentation through a "pied de cuve." It has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.81 and 4.8 grams of acidity (tartaric). It's very fresh and fruit-driven, with the balance and elegance of the cooler years, a little austere, with very elegant and polished tannins and a different quality, when the grapes ripen slowly. They believe 2024 has the potential to be like 2021, after the 2022 and 2023 vintages were a lot more challenging. This is a large production of 244,244 bottles, 7,075 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in June 2023.

JAMES SUCKLING 95 Points
A pretty deep but fresh and harmonious wine that can be consumed early. It’s from a blend of Ribera del Duero vineyards. Fascinating aromas of fine spices, dark chocolate, dark cherries, blackberries and cedar wood. Medium- to full-bodied with fine, chalky tannins and a lasting finish. Impeccable balance. A textbook Ribera del Duero that gives a panoramic view of the region. Drink from 2025.

DECANTER 95 points
Tasted by: Ines Salpico
(at Mandarin Oriental, London, 20 Jan 2025) Part of Vega Sicilia’s 2025 releases: Singularity beyond Unico
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040
There's a very particular, alluring savoury appeal to this wine, with its distinct salty liquorice note hovering over dried oregano, thyme, black pepper, cardamom and dried violets. Well presented tannins, with a broody, toasty edge. Fresh and vibrant yet robust, with a fragrant persistence of wild roses and Earl Grey. Long, spicy finish with a long tail sprinkled with white pepper.

JANCIS ROBINSON 18 points
Very fine Alión, with less oak than usual and a profile of depth and subtlety. On the palate, sapidity, a touch of salinity, and fully integrated and smooth tannins. I love the way the oak is integrated, with much more subtlety than previous Alións. Fluidity, chalky texture, and lots of finesse on the palate. A touch of violet on the back palate and still very primary. One of the best Alións I can remember. (FC)

VINOUS 94 points
The 2021 Alión comes from Ribera del Duero. The nose is slightly liqueur-like, with herbs and red fruit complemented by oak and a cherry note. Forest floor emerges later. The palate is juicy and polished, with fine-grained tannins and a slightly compact mid-palate. It finishes with a well-integrated note of aged fruit. - Joaquín Hidalgo