Alion Ribera del Duero Spain, 2014, 750
Alion Ribera del Duero Spain, 2014, 750
Decanter 93
"From Vega Sicilia’s sister estate, using 50% own fruit and 50% from growers in villages including Pesquera and Moradillo. What a difference a vintage makes! 2013 was a cool year and Alión was not showing at its best, but one year later, with some gentle tweaks to the winemaking, the 2014 is delightfully aromatic, with fine oak, redcurrant fruit, and notes of forest floor. The palate is impressively silky, with black fruit and aniseed, while the tannins are firm and tight at present. Alión is a modern-styled Ribera del Duero youngster, and simply needs time to calm down."
W&S 96
"Alion comes from a 320-acre vineyard on the gravelly bank of the Douro River. This 2014 is one of the best vintages Vega-Sicilia has produced. In a year marked by a hot summer and moderate-to-warm temperatures in the fall, the wine ripened to succulent red fruit flavor with radiant spice notes and a sleek earthiness. And the texture, so soft and generous, makes it very easy to drink. It’s a modern Ribera, focused on ripe fruit, balanced and harmonious."
WS 91
"This firm red shows an austere character, with tar and smoky notes framing black tea, licorice and loamy earth flavors. The structure is solid and balanced, and currant and floral depths emerge on the finish. Old-school. Best from 2019 through 2029."
