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Alíon 2012 150cl

DO | Ribera del Duero | Castilla y León | Spain
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Critics scores
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
Producer
Bodegas Vega Sicilia
Spain’s most famous red wine producer, Vega Sicilia consistently produces the best distinct blends from the Ribera del Duero, in both style and approach. Located in Valbuena de Duero, the estate has been in the Álvarez family since 1982, and has remained the largest in the country, with about 1000 hectares of property – 25% of which are planted to vines. Their top wine, Unico, is a delicious blend of Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Unico benefits from extended cask-maturation time that has been perfected to preserve amble freshness in the finished wine. Then there is also the exceptional Reserva Especial, a non-vintage, which is a blend of the top selections, and is traditionally aged for 10 years consisting of mostly Tinto Fino, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The second wine coming from Ribera del Duero’s most influential vineyard is Valbuena, which has more present fruit character, a cuvée of Tinto Fino, Malbec and Merlot.