Bodegas Vega Sicilia
Vega Sicilia is considered by many to be Spain’s most prestigious wine estate. It is located in Ribera del Duero, e3ast of Valladolid. The estate covers around 1,000 hectares, of which 230 - 250 are under vines. Founded in 1864 by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, who arrived from Bordeaux with cuttings of local clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec, he had planted planted them together with Spain's indigenous grape Tinto Fino (a clone of Tempranillo) in the arid Ribera soils.
Just as people are refreshed in the cooler altitude, so the grapes retain freshness and elegance. Indeed the vines here flower later than Burgundy or Champagne and there is a real danger of frost before the harvest. The climate is noticeably clear and dry, which means that the sun aids ripening through both reliable heat and luminosity. The wines here have an acidity that cleanses the palate and marries particularly well with rich western or eastern food.
The winery began building its formidable reputation after 1903 under the ownership of Antonio Herrero, winning a number of awards, and having blessed with successful distribution around the world. The Alvarez family purchased the estate in 1982, the same year that the DO of Ribera del Duero was created, and today Pablo Alvarez tirelessly represents the estate around the world.
The estate produces three wines, Unico, Reserva Especial and Valbuena. Unico is the vintage wine released at 10 years old, Valbuena is also vintage, released at 5 years old, and the Reserva Especial is a blend of at least three vintages. This multi-vintage blending has long been practised at the bodega, and is very much a house style.
Valbuena receives 3 years ageing in wood before being bottled, and is aged for a further 2 years before release. Normally around 80% Tempranillo, 20% Malbec and Merlot, it is a fleshy, spicy, wine of great lift and freshness. Unico receives a total of 7 years ageing before bottling, and 3 years further maturation before release. The composition of Unico varies enormously, but as a rule is around 80% Tempranillo and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. About 10% of Unico is retained each year to be blended into a Reserva Especial.
Bodegas Alion
Vega Sicilia Group
Bodegas Alion was launched with the 1991 vintage by the famous Vega Sicilia estate. The wine is made by Xavier Ausas, winemaker at Vega Sicilia, from a single grape variety, Tempranillo.
The style and philosophy is entirely different to the long ageing at Vega Sicilia, with the release of a young, three year-old wine that has been matured almost entirely in new French oak casks for 12 months. This is an uncompromisingly modern winery. Alion is ready to be drunk after release but with at least 10 years ageing potential. The wine lives up to the environment in which it is created; sexy, flamboyant, peppery and finely textured.
Bodegas Pintia
Vega Sicilia Group
The Alvarez family haven’t stopped within the boundaries of the Ribera; Pintia is a 100ha property in Toro, 100km west of Vega Sicilia. The first commercially available vintage here was in 2001, after a number of experimental vintages. 80,000 bottles were released. It is again 100% Tempranillo, here called Tinto del Toro, matured in 100% new oak, 70% French and 30% American, from the cooperage at Vega Sicilia. The wines of Toro have a density and animal muscularity to them which the Vega team craft into integrated wines with juicy fruit.
