2018 Vega Sicilia Alion Ribera del Duero 750 ml

Eminent critic Hugh Johnson said "Vega Sicilia is the Latour of Spain." The winery’s flagship Unico is as painstakingly made, patiently aged, and passionately sought after as any First Growth—and it’s priced accordingly. 

But red-wine lovers who balk at Unico prices can still access el mundo Vega Sicilia. The winery’s much-lesser-known Alión bottling—an elegant, terroir-driven Ribera del Duero inspired by Bordeaux’s modern classics—offers a startling level of quality and collectibility for a fraction of the price.

The 2018 Alión is an absolute stunner. Sourced from Alión’s 70 hectares of estate vineyards in Padilla, Valbuena, and Pesquera de Duero, the powerful and juicy yet finely balanced Ribera earned outstanding scores and is geared for earlier enjoyment than the incredibly long-aged Unico.

Unico is all about long aging: It spends nearly a decade in barrel and cask, then is meant for more time in the cellar. Alión puts the same dedication to quality into a bottle that’s meant to be enjoyed in the shorter term. 

Alión is grown on vines aged up to 38 years, which sit at roughly 750 meters altitude. The estate is dedicated to constant improvement: For the 2018 vintage, they renovated their vinification zones with smaller, more precise vats (including concrete), and that refinement shows in every sip.

The 2018 Alión aged in 80% new French and American oak for two years. Now boasting nice bottle age, the wine shows all of Ribera’s richness, with excellent freshness and precision. With a beautifully round acidity, it’s subtle, balanced, and polished, with deeply integrated oak and a seductive texture. 

If you’ve got the budget for Unico, by all means, please make it a part of your cellar. But for anyone looking for access to the pinnacle of Spanish wine, this is an excellent move.