Born to make history
Ground-breaking and independent, and the result of the evolution of a famous family of great wines.
Recognised, distinguished and praised for the authenticity of its temperament, Alión today symbolises a universal and forward—looking spirit.
Wine produced using the Tinto Fino variety. The grapes are harvest by hand in 12-kg boxes and are taken immediately to the winery to the sorting tables. Fermentation takes place in wooden tanks under controlled temperatures until a good polyphenolic structure is obtained which will provide the generous colour and firm structure that makes up part of the personality of this wine; and finally the ageing of between 12 and 14 months, depending on the characteristics of the vintage, is performed in full in new French oak Bordeaux barrels. These barrels, from the leading Bordeaux firms, are a significant investment in oak as, harvest after harvest, all the wine that is produced in Alión will be aged in new barrels that, after the wine is decanted to be bottle, will not be used again by the winery.
Once the wine is removed from the barrels, it will remain no less than 15 months in the stillness of the bottle, where it will end up assembling all the primary aromas of the fruit with the hues from its delicate ageing, resulting in an intense, complex and fleshy wine, but where the elegance is a distinguishing feature and hallmark of the winery.
Description
Alión is the result of a careful selection of terroirs located in the best areas of DO Ribera del Duero. Soils that complement each other and the same viticultural practices used at Vega Sicilia produce wines with a firm structure.
The 2020 vintage was drier than others right up to the harvest. The grapes were very healthy, but the heavy rains in September marked the vintage and diluted the fruit. We had to wait for the grapes to re-concentrate before harvesting, but the resulting wines were more vertical, balanced and fresh. We were able to extract more because the skins were highly polymerised, allowing us to increase the proportion of American oak by 4%.
The use of concrete helped us to improve the verticality and freshness of the wines.
Covid made 2020 a challenging vintage, but the wines are delicate, deep and spicy. This Alión stands out for its elegance and finesse.General information
Alcohol by volume
14.5 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
40 yearsVineyard surface area
70 ha (Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
3,500 kg/ha - 24,5 Hl/haHarvest
Manual, in 12 kg boxes, from 14 September to 4 October2020 Vineyard cycle
Temperatures were warmer than usual at the end of the previous growing season and the weather conditions resulted in good cane ripening.
Average spring temperatures and rain helped the plants to sprout successfully in the second half of April with no frost. In terms of rainfall, the total for the year is below average.
June was cooler than normal, while July was warmer, bringing veraison forward by a week.
There was some rain during the harvest, so we had to stop occasionally in order to pick dry, healthy grapes.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be cellared for 20 years if stored in optimal conditions: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
Best served at 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
285,485 standard Bordeaux bottles, 7,115 Magnum, 620 Double Magnum, 81 Imperial and 7 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
May 2022
Description
Alión comes from carefully selected terroirs located in the very best areas of the Ribera del Duero DO region. The soils complement each other, and allied with the same winemaking process used in Vega Sicilia, they have produced wines with a firm structure.
2019 was a drier vintage than normal, which was also noted during the grape tasting. Potent, concentrated skins, yet with a very firm structure. Work essentially started with extraction to develop a vintage for which we reduced total vatting for fermentation to around 11 days. The odd batch was refined before being barrelled and reducing the impact of the wood and the toast is important for this type of vintage. Adding concrete helped us to work on the verticality and freshness of the wines.
2019 was a potent, concentrated, juicy vintage, yet with a sensual and unctuous side too.General information
Alcohol by volume
15 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
39 yearsVineyard surface area
70 ha (Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
3,500 kg/ha - 24.5 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from 26 September to 10 October2019 Vineyard cycle
The previous cycle ended with warmer temperatures than normal and the weather conditions enabled good lignification. Normal spring temperatures with precipitation enabled budbreak to occur as normal during the second fortnight of April, with no frosts recorded. Total precipitation for the entire wine-growing season was below average.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 20 years if stored in the ideal conditions of: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended drinking temperature is 18 ºC/ 64 ºF.Production
256,526 Bordeaux, 7,005 Magnum, 608 Double Magnum, 80 Imperial, and 5 Salmanazar bottles.
Year bottled
may 2021
Description
Alión comes from carefully selected terroirs located in the very best areas of the Ribera del Duero DO region. The soils complement each other, and allied with the same winemaking process used in Vega Sicilia, they have produced wines with a firm structure.
The 2018 vintage reflects weather influenced by the Atlantic, with higher than average precipitation, cool temperatures, and a relatively late harvest, between 28 September and 12 October.
We used our Wine Making Facility for the first time, with tanks at half the capacity, enabling greater precision during extraction. We increased the effect of new oak on this vintage by up to 80 %, with American oak representing 10 %, targeting a more generous wine.
2018 was a fresh, Atlantic-influenced vintage, giving this Alión a more vertical, longer, and elegant expression.General information
Alcohol by volume
15 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
38 yearsVineyard surface area
70 ha (Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
3,800 kg/ha - 26.6 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12 kg crates from September 28th to October 12th2018 Vineyard cycle
The previous cycle ended with lower than average minimum temperatures and widespread frosts from early November. Winter temperatures were lower than normal, but they were above average in early April, leading to suitable budburst in the second fortnight of the month.
Summer temperatures were normal for the time of year, and combined with the abundant water reserves in the soil and good luminosity, the vineyard developed excellently, with a faster vine cycle.
Stormy periods with abundant precipitation during early September led to a delay in harvesting.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be aged for up to 20 years if stored in the ideal conditions of: 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended drinking temperature is 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
257,257 Bordeaux bottles, 7,005 Magnum, 619 Double Magnum, 82 Imperial, and 5 Salmanazar bottles.
Year bottled
May 2020
Description
Alión comes from a careful selection of terroirs dotted across the very best areas of the Ribera del Duero DO. These soils, which complement each other, along with the same winemaking process as Vega Sicilia, have given rise to wines with a firm structure.
2017 was the 'vintage of the frost' (April 28), but this affected us less than it could have, thanks to our policy of producing 25 % more than we need, and to the double pruning carried out in the winter.
In this drier and warmer vintage, the contribution of oak was reduced, using 72 % new barrel, 18 % used barrel and 10 % concrete, with a view to working on the tannin texture, on the one hand, and the freshness and journey of the wine, on the other.
2017 was a challenging vintage, but with a glorious end result, sustaining the genuine, modern and multicultural character of Alión of somewhat warmer and firmer expression.General information
Alcohol by volume
15 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
37 yearsVineyard surface area
130 haPlanting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
2.900 kg/ha - 20.3 Hl/haHarvest
Manual in 12 kg boxes from September 12th to September 28th2017 Vineyard cycle
The weather conditions at the end of the 2016/2017 cycle helped the plants parch properly.
The temperatures recorded during the month of January were slightly lower than expected, with heavy frosts. However, this trend changed throughout February and until the end of June, with average temperatures above normal (2 °C to 3 °C higher). Due to the high temperatures in April, bud break was slightly earlier than usual, already in phenological stage C (green tip) on April 20. But the abrupt changes in temperature in the last few days of April and widespread heavy frosts considerably damaged budburst. The heaviest frost, which caused the most damage to the grapevine, was on the night of April 27 to 28.
The cold front in the last few days of April and the first days of May passed quickly, giving way to high temperatures and some rainfall, which allowed the vineyard to recover well from the frost damage.
Regarding rainfall, the amount of water accumulated in this cycle was below the historical average.
The pronounced thermal differences (maximum daily temperatures versus the minimum daily temperatures) in the first fortnight of September were of particular importance for the ripening of the grape.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is suitable for drinking now, but it can be stored for 15 years in optimal conditions: 12-14 °C / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
The recommended serving temperature is 18 °C / 64 ºF.Production
230,032 Bordeaux bottles, 7,044 Magnum, 614 Double Magnum, 82 Imperial and 6 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
May 2019
Description
Alión is formed by a careful selection of plots spread across the best of Ribera del Duero. These plots, which complement each other, joined by the same viticulture as Vega Sicilia, have given rise to firm structured wines.
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.
Alión 2016 experimented a 10% use of concrete bringing out a more elegant and profound wine.
This vintage will be remembered in the history of Alión. It has a genuine, modern character highlighting its harmony and thoroughness.General information
Alcohol by volume
15 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
37 yearsVineyard surface area
130 haPlanting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
4,100 kg/ha - 28 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12kg cases from September 28th to October 10th2016 Vineyard cycle
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.Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 20 - 25 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12 - 14 ºC and 60% relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.Production
258,458 Bordeaux bottle, 7,017 Magnum, 578 Double Magnum, 72 Imperial and 3 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
June 2018
Description
Alión is formed by a careful selection of plots spread across the best of Ribera del Duero. These plots, which complement each other, joined by the same viticulture as Vega Sicilia, have given rise to firm structured wines.
Of outstanding personality, lots in Alion are guided through 12 months ageing in French oak barrels and 5% American oak, to obtain maximum complexity from the diversity of soil. This vintage was aged in 80% new oak barrels and the remaining in used barriques attaining, without a doubt, the most universal wine of the house; later resting in bottle until reaching a perfect stage for consumption.
Alión is a fleshy, complex, intense wine, where elegance plays a differentiating role and is the winery´s hallmark.
It is definitely modern, genuine and multicultural in character. A perfect pairing. Alión 2015 is particularly rich, concentrated. A very harmonious wine.
General information
Alcohol by volume
15 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
30 yearsVineyard surface area
130 ha (Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
3,600 kg/ha - 24.5 Hl/haHarvest
Hand-picked in 12-kg crates from September 21st to the 29th.2015 Vineyard cycle
After a rainy 2014/2015 winter (within average annual rainfall) and very good reserves in the depth of all soil types, spring of 2015 was drier than usual. Budding in the vineyard was slightly early and rain during flowering, close to June 12th, helped slower the life cycle of the vineyard, accelerated by the high temperature in the month of May. No significant spring frost was registered.
Weather conditions were normal in Ribera del Duero. Summertime with plenty of heat in the month of July and sporadic storms, leaving no severe consequences. The vineyard´s life cycle was normal showing no stress, though slightly earlier than an average year.
September was a dry month, leading to good sanity and a well-balanced end of grape maturation in Alion´s vineyard, obtaining an aromatic and harmonious harvest between September 21st and 29th.
Storage, serving and drinking window
This wine is ready to drink now holding a potential ageing window of approximately 15-20 years if kept in ideal conditions: constant temperature of 12-14 ºC / 54-57 ºF and 60 % relative humidity.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC / 64 ºF.Production
230,730 Bordeaux bottles, 7,007 Magnum, 580 Double Magnum, 78 Imperial, 5 Salmanazar.
Year bottled
June 2017
Description
130 hectares of land, unbeatably located on the banks of the Duero River, produce a modern, independent 100% Tinto Fino. These plots, which complement each other, united by the same viticulture as Vega Sicilia, have given rise to firm structured wines.
Alión, of outstanding personality, is aged in new French oak barrels for 12 to 14 months and later bottled until it is ready for drinking. It is, without a doubt, the most universal wine of the family.
Alión is intense, complex, full-bodied, where elegance plays a differentiating role being the winery´s sign of identity. Its modern, genuine and multicultural character makes it easy to pair.
Alión 2014 is specially ample, voluptuous, appealing and tremendously velvety.General information
Alcohol by volume
14,5 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
30 yearsVineyard surface area
130 ha (split between Padilla, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
3,600 kg/haHarvest
Hand-picked, in 12-kg boxes2014 Vineyard cycle
Soft winter with low rainfall in comparison to the ordinary.
Spring began with higher temperatures than usual in both April and May, producing an early budding, 8 days in average. Temperatures began to drop in mid-May to normal values for the season with a few cool nights yet no frost. Good fruit set this year, mainly due to green pruning per plot to obtain optimum balance.
Summer started with moderate temperatures until the end of August, rising in September (higher than usual) helping in reaching favorable ripeness. Several storms in summer causing no major damage in our Pesquera and Padilla vineyards.
Harvest start date was September 20th and ended with stupendous ripeness and sanity on October 3rd.Storage, serving and drinking window
These wines are ready for drinking now but may potentially be stored for approximately 15-20 years if kept in optimum conditions (12-14 ºC) at 60% relative humidity, and constant temperature, protected from direct light.
Optimum drinking temperature is 18 ºC.Production
284.284 Bordeaux bottles, 6,540 Mágnum bottles, 531 Double-Mágnum bottles and 66 Imperial bottles.Year bottled
June 2016
Description
Belonging to the Ribera del Duero DO, Alión is grown at barely fifteen kilometers from the Vega Sicilia estate.
In Alión, a careful selection was made of terroirs spread across the best areas of the appellation of origin (DO). Using the parent company's viticulture, firmly-structured wines were produced from these mutually complementing plots.
Possessing great personality, Alión is matured for 12-14 months in new French oak barrels so as to obtain the wine which is the most universally popular of the family. Indeed, it settles in the bottle to ensure a perfect wine experience.
Alión is an intense, complex and fleshy wine, where elegance acts as the differentiating element and the winery's seal of identity.
Genuine character, modern and multicultural. They are elegant wines, fresh, complex and subtle; perfect for pairing.
General information
Alcohol by volume
14,5 %Variety
Tinto FinoAverage age of vineyard
30 yearsVineyard surface area
130 ha (split between Padilla,Valbuena and Pesquera)Planting density
2,222 plants/haAltitude
750 mYield
3,600 kg /haHarvest
Hand-picked, in 12-kg boxes2013 Vineyard cycle
Although budding of the vine was slightly early, temperatures in spring were lower than usual causing a minor delay in the cycle. Summer was normal in terms of temperature, though September was relatively cold, with storms at the beginning of the month and showers towards the second half, which lead to a meticulous harvest bringing out a more complex 2013. This is a vintage for vine-growers, where the impeccable work in the vineyard is perfectly reflected in the quality of the wine.
Storage, serving and drinking window
These wines are ready for drinking now but may potentially be stored for approximately 15-20 years if kept in optimum conditions (12-14 ºC) at 60% relative humidity, and constant temperature, protected from direct light.
Optimum drinking temperature is 17 ºC.
Production
260,232 bordeaux bottles, 6,538 magnum bottles, 502 double-magnum bottles and 66 imperial bottles.Year bottled
May 2015.
