Tempos Vega Sicilia Alión 2021

Located in the heart of the Ribera del Duero, in the province of Burgos, the Alión vineyard stretches across carefully selected parcels along the Duero valley. The vines are planted on soils mixing gravel, clay, and sand, offering natural drainage and good water regulation. Influenced by a distinct continental climate, with hot summers and cool nights, this terroir promotes slow and complete ripening of the grapes, allowing for precise expression of the typicity of the local Tempranillo, known as Tinto Fino.

Harvesting is done manually, with meticulous selection of the bunches. After destemming, alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, followed by an adapted maceration to extract color and structure. Malolactic fermentation is conducted in barrels. Aging occurs primarily in French oak barrels, supplemented by a portion of American oak and large containers, in order to refine the tannins and preserve the purity of the fruit, before bottling at the estate.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruits, plum, and black cherry, complemented by discreet floral touches and spicy nuances of pepper and liquorice. Elegant woody accents, evoking vanilla, cocoa, and cedar, blend into a more mineral register that brings freshness and depth. On the palate, the texture is full and structured, supported by fine and ripe tannins, well-integrated acidity, and a long, savoury, and harmonious finish.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.