ALION Tempos Vega Sicilia - Ribera del Duero 2021 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
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.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
The 2021 Alión is a remarkable vintage that beautifully combines youthful vibrancy with complexity, making it suitable for both immediate enjoyment and future cellaring. Made from 100% Tempranillo (Tinto Fino), this wine originates from carefully selected terroirs across the finest areas of the Ribera del Duero DO region. Its mosaic of flavours comes from grapes sourced from 13 different villages, including the renowned Vega Sicilia estate.

Aged for 12 months in a combination of barrel, concrete, and oak vats, followed by an additional 18 months in bottle, the 2021 Alión results in a harmonious and refined wine. While it promises to shine in a few years, it has the potential to evolve gracefully over the next 10 to 15 years, exhibiting balance, silkiness, and depth.

The Wine Advocate rated it an impressive 96 points, characterising the vintage as relaxed and textbook, with ideal growing conditions, including snow early in the year and a cool summer that allowed the grapes to ripen perfectly without rain after September. It is fresh and fruit-driven, showcasing elegant, polished tannins with a nuanced character.

James Suckling awarded it 95 points, praising the deep yet fresh profile with fascinating aromas of fine spices, dark chocolate, and dark fruits. He noted its impeccable balance and medium- to full-bodied character, making it approachable yet structured.

Decanter also gave it 95 points, highlighting its alluring savoury appeal with distinct notes of salty liquorice, dried herbs, and a fragrant persistence of wild roses and Earl Grey tea. The review emphasised its long, spicy finish that showcases both freshness and robustness.

Jancis Robinson rated it 18 points, commenting on the fine integration of oak and the wine's depth and subtlety, with smooth tannins and a chalky texture that enhances its elegance.

Vinous rated the 2021 Alión 94 points, noting its liqueur-like nose with red fruit, herbs, and a compact mid-palate finished with well-integrated notes of aged fruit.

Overall, the 2021 Alión stands out as a stellar representation of the Ribera del Duero region, perfect for those seeking a vibrant, structured wine that encapsulates both immediate enjoyment and the potential for development over time.

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

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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.