Alión

Pair it with wild red meats.

The end of the previous campaign closed with warmer temperatures than usual. The first frost episodes took place in mid-November, showing little importance until December. This allowed for a good drying by withering. Regarding the temperatures recorded from November to February, winter was quite mild. This trend was reversed in early March. Because the start of spring was cooler than usual, budding of the vineyard was slightly delayed compared to an average year. Summer was typical to that of Ribera del Duero. Flowering took place in middle of June. The excessive heat produced in August caused long periods of dormancy which delayed maturation. September was a dry month, leading to good sanity and a very balanced end of grape ripening, which in both, our own vineyard and the controlled vines for Alión, we managed to obtain very aromatic and harmonious grapes, harvested between September 28th and October 10th, according to the plot.

Lots in Alión are guided through 12 months ageing in 80% new barrels. French oak is predominant in 95% barrels and 5% American oak, to obtain maximum complexity from the diversity of soil.

Few wines have a history as distinguished as that of Vega Sicilia. Founded in the 1860’s, its reputation on its flagship vintage has for more than 100 years produced two great wines, each appropriately named "Único." It was at Vega Sicilia in Ribera del Duero, two hours from Madrid, that Tempranillo proved its potential for greatness. When the estate's original founder, Don Eloy Lecanda Chaves returned from France with cuttings of Bordeaux varietals, he planted them alongside the indigenous variety, then known simply as Tinto del Pais, or “Country Red”, but today known as Tinto Fino or Tempranillo. Surprisingly, it was the Tempranillo that produced the superior wine. Today, the market for Vega Sicilia is one of scarcity and increasing demand. Vega Sicilia’s growing fame and desirability is testament not only to the estate’s enduring legacy but to the world’s craving for wines of history and noble bearing. Vega Sicilia's vintage Único, Reserva Especial and Valbuena are such wines.