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Intense red-violet color. Very mineral nose with a lot of red fruit, mint and a peppermint background, very complex aromas in perfect harmony with the tertiary aromas of its long aging in the barrel.

Made from Listán Negro sourced from the vineyards of Pedro Umpiérrez and Ascensión Robayna. Vines in excess of 100 years old. Planted in deep, black volcanic sands (up to 3m deep) over clay subsoils. Hand harvested, 90% whole cluster, natural yeast fermentation in amphorae and small fermentation bins. 6 months in neutral 500L French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Alión comes from carefully selected terroirs located in the very best areas of the Ribera del Duero DO region. The soils complement each other, and allied with the same winemaking process used in Vega Sicilia, they have produced wines with a firm structure. 2018 was a fresh, Atlantic-influenced vintage, giving this Alión a more vertical, longer, and elegant expression.

Vega Sicilia is widely regarded as the greatest wine producer in Spain. The estate in Ribera del Duero is known for its dense, complex red wines made principally from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grape variety. Its top wine, Unico, is one of Spain's most expensive and sought-after wines.

2017 was a very challenging year, as most of their vineyards in San Vicente de la Sonsierra in Rioja were affected by frost, unlike others in nearby Laguardia. Not only was it frost, but they also had hail later on in the season. Quantities suffered—they told me they lost 70% of the crop in Rioja that year—but they were happy about the quality of the 2017 Macán, being very careful with the fermentation and separating the press wine by quality.