VEGA SICILIA, BODEGAS ALION & BODEGAS PINTIA

SPAIN

"One of a handful of world-class wines that transcend their regions by sheer force of personality." - Stephen Tanzer

Spain’s iconic producer, Vega Sicilia, is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious wineries in the world. The name has become almost mythical in nature, with the winery known for its extraordinary efforts in patience, willing to hold on to their elusive bottlings years until deemed fit for release. Comparing the best wines of Spain to the First Growths of Bordeaux, Hugh Johnson, co-author of the World Atlas of Wine, stated “Vega Sicilia is the Latour.” Perhaps the most rare and exclusive wine from Spain, their Unico is legendary and is released at an average of ten years of age and can easily cellar for 40+ years. Fetching $500+ per bottle, this legendary wine is life-changing, but for obvious reasons, may not be attainable for most. However, lucky for us mere mortals, the renowned Vega Sicilia estate decided to expand their portfolio to focus on Spain’s indigenous grape variety, Tempranillo, at price points that represent some of the best values you can find. Garnering top scores year after year, these wines are explosive, opulent and extraordinarily long-lived – for a fraction of the price.

Established in 1991 in Ribera del Duero, Bodegas Alion is comprised of 130 hectares of land divided into three large blocks, seventy of which are located on the Vega Sicilia estate itself. Their enologist Xavier Ausas, who is responsible for Vega Sicilia wines made just down the road notes “Alion is a more Bordeaux-styled wine, one that allows us to show that a Vega Sicilia wine can be made in a more modern style”. Produced using 100% Tempranillo, from 37 hectares planted in 1986 as well as younger vines at Vega Sicilia, Alion is the “younger sibling” to Vega Sicilia: alluring, opulent yet elegant, the wine is aged three years prior to release and will age beautifully for 15-20 years.

Attracted to the galet-strewn terroir of northern Spain’s Toro region, the Alvarez family bought Bodegas Pintia in 1996. Characterized by very hot summers with an extreme continental climate, the idea began with a desire to craft a more elegant style of Tempranillo than what was currently being produced in the region. “We heard that Toro was a very good region…a region of perhaps rustic wines. We wanted to produce a different style of Tempranillo. We wanted to make a more elegant wine. In Toro the Tempranillo is wilder and rustic while in Ribera del Duero it is more elegant. The Tempranillo is more like a bull in Toro. If you don’t control it, you make wines that are over-ripe"(Xavier Ausas). With extreme conditions, the focus on precision in the vineyard and winery is paramount to produce a wine with concentration and elegance. A challenge that was certainly met as the wines of Bodegas Pintia defy the idea of rustic Toro, and today's 2014 Pintia is one of the most powerful, beautifully structured and long-lived wines in the region.

As the newest vintages to be released from this Spanish icon, this is an incredible opportunity to acquire these gems at a super-sharp price before they hit stores. With over 15% off by the bottle for a special pre-arrival offer, now is the time to add these two standouts from Vega Sicilia to your collection!