Vega Sicilia Ribera del Duero, Alión | 2020

In the 1980s, the Álvarez family of Vega Sicilia sought to produce a wine that took advantage of the most current winemaking techniques, just like the great, innovative Châteaux of Bordeaux. First produced in 1991, that wine, and later winery, became Alión. Unlike Unico and Valbuena, Alión is a pure expression of Tempranillo, sourced from over 70 estate hectares that reflect the diverse terroir of Ribera del Duero, from pockets of broken quartz to smooth white and red stones to the iconic, deep draining gravels. A very good vintage, 2020 is textbook Alión with dark shiny fruits and well-polished tannins. The maturity of the vines (averaging 40-45 years) delivers pleasant cool acidity on the palate, proving that powerful wines can, also, be elegant. ~Allegra A