2022 Alión

The Alión vintage released in 2026 is the 2022 Alión, a year they consider a challenge, a warm and dry year when ripeness didn't follow the usual pattern: late vineyards ripened earlier and early vineyards took longer this year. Their obsession was to keep the freshness in the wine, and they did a softer vinification and a more careful use of oak, using larger volumes and other materials like concrete to tame a powerful and solar vintage. The nose is serious and even has some austerity. The wine is obviously juicier and rounder, with 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.89 and 4.58 grams of acidity, but has very good overall balance. The tannins are round, polished and slightly dustier than other vintages, the wine has a tender mouthfeel. A total of 270,870 bottles, 7,040 magnums and some larger formats were produced. It was bottled in May 2024.

This is one of the most challenging harvests for Tempos Vega Sicilia, as Alión draws fruit from more than 160 parcels across 13 municipalities stretching from the eastern to the western extremes of Ribera del Duero. The freshest fruit comes from the cooler, higher-elevation Soriana zone and from Moradillo de Roa; the more Mediterranean profile appears in villages such as Pesquera and Peñafiel; and maximum concentration is found in Pedrosa de Duero and Roa. The vintage was extremely hot, marked by several heatwaves. The intense summer triggered episodes of vegetative shutdown in the warmer, lower vineyards, delaying ripening. Paradoxically, the cooler high-elevation sites – unaffected by the heat spikes – followed their usual cycle and were harvested earlier. The lower vineyards, stressed by the heat, ripened later and were picked afterwards, reversing the expected order of harvest. Ageing was carried out over 12 months using a combination of concrete, three 4,000-litre wooden foudres, and predominantly barrels, with less American oak than usual due to the warmth of the year and a stronger emphasis on French oak. The wine then spent 18 months in bottle before release. Production totals 270,870 bottles, 7,040 magnums, 616 double magnums, 83 imperials and 6 salmanazars. The 2022 Alión is a powerful, rich expression, driven by dense black fruit and a distinctly warm-vintage profile. There is a touch of sweet fruit character to the mid palate, and the alcohol feels slightly higher than usual, though balanced by plush, juicy tannins and beautifully integrated oak. Notes of prune and dark plum lend an opulent, almost Cabernet-like character that will appeal to lovers of richer, more explosive styles. One of the most exuberant and fruit-forward Alión vintages in recent memory. (FC)

A structured and chewy wine from this challenging hot, dry year. On the nose it is profound and floral at the same time, with graphite, blackberries and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and tightly wound. Give it two or three more years. Drink from 2027.