Bodegas Alion Ribera Del Duero 2001 1.5lt Magnum
2 BOTTLES AVAILABLE.
The finest Alion I have tasted from this project owned by the proprietors of Vega Sicilia, the 2001 is a sensational effort. Moreover, while it’s not inexpensive, 25,000 cases are produced. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by a glorious, smoky nose of espresso, dried herbs, roasted meats, sweet black currants, new saddle leather, plums, and cherries. This provocative, rich, complex, full-bodied Ribera del Duero possesses wonderful glycerin, fabulous purity, and a long finish that lasts for 40+ seconds. It is an opulent, voluptuously-styled wine with great stature. Drink it over the next decade. Drink 2005-2015 95 points, Robert Parker Junior
Bodegas Alion, owned by the legendary Vega Sicilia estate, was founded in 1986. The wine made here is a more Bordeaux-styled, "modern" wine than the Unico or Valbuena. The winery is located just down the road from Vega Sicilia and the wine is made from 100% tempranillo from 37 hectares that were planted in 1986 as well as some younger vines planted at Vega Sicilia. Following fermentation, the wine remains in tank for two or three months on its fine lees before being moved into all new French oak barrels, where it remains for 14 to 18 months.
Alión is a solid wine, and is the height of expression of the tinto fino grape ripened in the sun and intelligently made into wine. Its colour is concentrated, dark with a luminous and seductive edge, typical of its youth and seasoned by the wood. The aroma is unveiled with an intensity that is not very frequent in the wines form the Ribera del Duero designation of origin. It appears with hints of roast from the grape and top-quality wood. On the palate, the sweetened tannins of the concentrated black fruits blend with the dry creamy tannins of the French oak. It is full of flavour, strong, fleshy and unfolds a truly suggestive range of tastes.
November 1992 marks the birth of Bodegas Alión. With this new challenge, the Álvarez family looks to demonstrate that Vega Sicilia, the legendary winery of the
Ribera del Duero, is capable of creating 21st-century wines with all the characteristics of the other wines of this same Designation of Origin.
1986. The idea for a new wine is born The Alión story began in 1986, when the Álvarez family decided to create a winery which, with its own vineyards, was to produce a wine with a philosophy and an identity different and independent from that of Bodegas Vega Sicilia. Thus, the possibility of making the wine in the Vega Sicilia installations was discarded; the Álvarez did not wish to create a brand that might be considered as a second wine from the mythicalname.
Before possessing the installations, the family bought land in order to ensure its own vineyards. In 1987, they acquired 25 hectares of vines in the locality of Padilla de Duero
(Peñafiel), 18 hectares of which were planted, at the beginning of 1988, with the tempranillo variety. Primarily, the intention was to have 100 hectares of vineyards, but the impossibility of acquiring land in optimum condition forced a change of opinion and the decision was taken to extend the vine-growing land area of Vega Sicilia for it to provide grapes to the new winery. It was then decided to choose a company which, without being well-known, had favourable winemaking facilities and installations.
1992. Creation of Bodegas Alión Bodegas Liceo, a company founded in 1990 and located in Peñafiel (Valladolid), had all the technological requirements sought by Vega Sicilia. After lengthy conversations, theÁlvarez family acquired the winery on 5th November 1992. Thus, Alión was born, a name laden with emotion, for it corresponded to the village of the province of León where the family patriarch, David Álvarez, was born.
