Vega Sicilia Alion 2020 75cl

Prominent black and red fruit flavours give way to a savoury, earthy note with just a hint of toasty oak. The tannins are youthful but still juicy and well-rounded and the fine acidity brings the freshness and elegance we expect from this estate.

Alión is Vega Sicilia’s sister estate in Ribera del Duero. The two bodegas are just six miles apart, but Alión’s vineyards are to be found in several of the DO’s best locations. On these diverse soils, however, is planted a single variety: Tempranillo. This is handled gently in the winery, giving a naturally concentrated wine that is fruit-forward and accessible in youth - a great introduction to the Vega Sicilia interpretation of Ribera del Duero.

Rioja may be the most famous region in Spain, but Ribera del Duero is no slouch. These classic wines are made mostly from the grape Tempranillo.

Ribera del Duero wines are known for being strong, dark-coloured wines filled with dark fruit, tobacco and vanilla flavours.

The sensual wines of Ribera del Duero are dark, brooding, and exciting. They are famous for taking the traditional Spanish grape Tempranillo and blending it with Bordeaux grapes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This practice makes wines that are strong, dark and beautiful.

Vega Sicilia is a legend among Spanish wine producers, established in 1864 at the western end of what is now the Ribera del Duero DO. The flagship, Unico, is Spain’s undisputed equivalent of a first growth, while the more approachable Valbuena 5º is just as sought after. The historic estate went through several changes of ownership before being bought by the Álvarez family in 1982. Meticulously detailed viticulture feeds into a complex, multi-stage ageing process that gives these wines a vibrancy and integration quite unlike any of their Ribera del Duero peers.