Alión 2020
89.70₣ (Inc. VAT bot. 75 cl.) / Spain
Bodegas y Viñedos Alión
Ribera del Duero
11 for immediate shipment
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.
Features
Type of wine
Style
Occasions
Winery
Size
Country
Region
Appellation
Alcohol
14.5%
Grapes
Serving
Between 16ºC and 18ºC
Winemaking
Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels.
Description
Alión, from the renowned Vega Sicilia winery, is a creation that combines tradition and modernity in Ribera del Duero. Conceived at the independent Alión winery, founded in 1992 by the Álvarez family, this wine seeks to capture the essence of the great reds of the region with a contemporary approach. Alión is made from 100% Tinto Fino, a variety also known as Tempranillo, grown in vineyards some 40 years old that offer concentrated, nuanced fruit.
The vineyards extend at an altitude of 750 metres above sea level in the areas of Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero, which favours a microclimate that allows for optimal ripening. The soils of these plots are deep and well-drained, with a mixture of coarse and fine materials together with quartzite gravels deposited by the Duero River, which brings a mineral complexity to the wine.
Winemaking
Harvesting begins in mid-September and lasts until the beginning of October. The grapes are hand-picked in small 12 kg crates to protect the integrity of the grapes.
The vinification process is carried out in temperature-controlled wooden vats, allowing a controlled and complete extraction of the polyphenols, which are responsible for the intense colour and firm structure. Ageing is meticulously carried out: Alión spends between 12 and 14 months in new French oak barrels from the prestigious Bordeaux cooperages, plus 4% in American oak, providing smooth, silky notes on the palate. The use of cement tanks in part of the process contributes to a greater verticality and freshness in the wine. Subsequently, the wine is bottled in May and then rests in the bottle for a minimum period of 15 months, during which time the fruity aromas and the nuances of the ageing are perfectly integrated.
Taste
Alión has an outstanding elegance and structure on the palate, with an enveloping texture and subtle tannins that stand out for their balance and freshness. Its aromatic profile is complex, highlighting spicy and ripe red fruit nuances, accompanied by subtle balsamic and mineral notes that evoke the depth of its soils and terroir. The finish is long, persistent and leaves a mark of sophistication and depth on the palate.
Alión not only reflects the quality and distinctive character of Ribera del Duero, but is also a sign of the Alión winery's tireless quest to achieve wines of modern complexity and ageing potential.
Shipping to Peninsular Spain
FREE shipping on orders over 190.86₣ or for 18 bottles or more in 6-bottle multiples (24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 and 60 bottles)Estimated transit time: 2-3 working days.
| Bottles | Price | Over 190.86₣ |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | 6.58₣ | 0.00₣ (-6.58₣) |
| 7-12 | 6.58₣ | 0.00₣ (-6.58₣) |
| 13-17 | 12.31₣ | 0.00₣ (-12.31₣) |
| 18 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 19-23 | 15.17₣ | 0.00₣ (-15.17₣) |
| 24 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 25-29 | 18.89₣ | 0.00₣ (-18.89₣) |
| 30 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 31-35 | 21.85₣ | 0.00₣ (-21.85₣) |
| 36 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 37-41 | 25.67₣ | 0.00₣ (-25.67₣) |
| 42 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 43-47 | 27.58₣ | 0.00₣ (-27.58₣) |
| 48 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 49-53 | 32.35₣ | 0.00₣ (-32.35₣) |
| 54 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| 55-59 | 34.26₣ | 0.00₣ (-34.26₣) |
| 60 | Free | 0.00₣ (Free) |
| VAT included | ||