2001 Vega Sicilia Alión
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Tasting notes
7 hl/ha “like Yquem”. In Ribera del Duero this is quite a controversial vintage. In Spain people say it’s outstanding but Vega Sicila is not producing Unico that year. May 2 temperaure fell to -5 deg. The vineyards already had 10cm of growth so the frost killed all the first generation bunches. But we had a very generous second growth cycle so ripeness was reasonable enough but the ripeness was of second generation bunches and you can’t produce top quality with second generation grapes, which is why there is no Unico 2001. They still picked at the beginning of Oct but had lost 15 days of ripening because of the second generation problem. Paler than 2002. Pale rim and less intense nose than the 2002. Neat, well balanced, quite nice sweet toasty palate attack. Lighter and tarter than the 2002 – well polished but just a bit skinny and scrawny – very youthful at the moment and I wonder whether it will ever really be comfortable and balanced? (JR)
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Bright ruby-red. Musky aromas of currant, roasted herbs, Cuban tobacco, black olive and black pepper. Lush and supple but firmly built, with wonderfully velvety, multilayered flavors of outstanding depth. This combines the solid structure of a top Bordeaux with the sheer sweetness of fruit possible in Spain. As rich as this is, there's no impression of excess weight. The finish features very fine-grained tannins and outstanding palate-saturating persistence. Clearly the finest vintage to date for this wine. .
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. Importer: A Christopher Cannan Selection, various American importers including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300 and Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 567-9897
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. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate June 2005
About the producer
Vega Sicilia is undoubtably Spain’s most famous winery; a true icon in fine wine with a history dating back to 1864.