Vega Sicilia – Alión 2020

At just under $200/bottle this represents great value for Vega Sicilia from the Ribera del Duero region in Spain who is generally considered to be Spain’s greatest producer and their Tempranillo based wines are widely acclaimed.

 

The 2020 vintage was shaped by a drier-than-usual growing season and intermittent September rains, which added a layer of challenge but ultimately enhanced the wine’s verticality and freshness. Grapes were hand-harvested from 40-year-old vines across Ribera del Duero’s most exceptional terroirs (Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero), resulting in concentrated fruit with remarkable purity.

 

Fermented in wooden tanks and aged for 12-14 months in 100% new French oak barrels, this vintage demonstrates Alión’s signature commitment to quality. The use of concrete tanks during fermentation further amplified the wine’s vibrancy and balance, while additional bottle aging harmonised its primary fruit aromas with the elegant nuances imparted by oak.

 

The result is a wine of intense character: deep, spicy, and intricate, yet unmistakably polished. Perfect for enjoyment now or capable of aging gracefully for the next two decades.

 

I’ll leave with a tasting note from Wine Advocate

 

95 points – Luis Gutiérrez – Wine Advocate (Jun 14, 2024)

“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. Drink 2025-2035.”

 

There are 20 cases available – first in best dressed.

 

This offer comes with our Provenance Guarantee – click here to learn more

 

Click here to secure your case(s)

 

Delivery will be in approx July 2025.