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, innovativee 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 drier vintage than normal, the 2019 has an immeasurable concentration on the palate, but with the maturity of the older vines (average age of 39-42 years), Alión continues to prove that freshness can live within power. ~Allegra A