95 Robert Parker
2012 has to be one of the best recent vintages of Alión. This 2012 Alión is pure Tempranillo from vineyards averaging 25 to 30 years of age, harvested at the end of September and matured for 14 months in new French oak barrels. The nose is much more elegant than the Pintia from Toro (I tasted them together), still very fresh and primary but with a special brightness of fruit, shiny cherries, raspberries, something effervescent, open and somehow exuberant. The palate is quite round, much more polished, with some notes of dark chocolate, some subtle volatility, elegant, fresh and long. It has the balance and stuffing to develop nicely in bottle. Superb balance, Ribera character, clean, modern classic. 280,000 bottles were produced.<br/><br/>After the warm and ripe 2011, there is a much more balanced 2012 Alión that reminded me of the 2001 vintage.<br/><br/>
18 Rene Gabriel
Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Intensives, direkt ansprechendes Bouquet, tendenziell rotbeerig und auch rote Kirschen zeigend, alles vermischt mit einer Prise süssem Sandelholz. Im Gaumen sehr fleischig, respektive stoffig, die vife Säure ist verlangend und vermittelt Länge. Ein grosser Alion, der (noch) nicht grad loslegt und noch nach weiterer Flaschenreife verlangt. 18/20 bald – 2026E