Alión embodies the diversity of Ribera del Duero. This wine represents a mosaic of personalities, with vineyards from the eastern border of the appellation (Soria) to the western end (the Vega Sicilia estate in Valbuena de Duero).
During the ageing process, in concrete, barrels and oak vats, the different sites are blended to create a harmonious Ribera.
2021 was a vintage to savour, to enjoy tasting the grapes, with their crisp, fruity skins and noble textures. The wines developed gently and the winemaking flowed smoothly.
It was a year to remember and one that we are very proud of. A balanced, silky and profound vintage.
100% Tinto Fino/Tempranillo
96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate The vintage released in 2025 is the 2021 Alión, a year to remember, one of the best in recent times. 2021 was relaxed and textbook in all senses, with snow in the beginning of the year, a mild spring disturbed only by frost in Pesquera that didn't affect other villages and a relatively cool summer that slowed things down, and the grapes ripened to perfection without rain after September. They used grapes from 13 different villages throughout the Ribera del Duero, from a total of 130 hectares. The grapes were cooled down for 24 hours, and once destemmed, they were put in the oak and stainless steel vats, where they underwent a five-day cold soak and then native fermentation through a "pied de cuve." The wine has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.81 and 4.8 grams of acidity (tartaric). It's very fresh and fruit-driven, with the balance and elegance of the cooler year, and it's a little austere, with very elegant and polished tannins and a different quality, when the grapes ripen slowly. They believe 2024 has the potential to be like 2021, after the 2022 and 2023 vintages were a lot more challenging. When to drink: 2025 to 2040
96 Jeb Dunnuck A blend of plots from across the region of varying altitudes and viticulture, some estate and some not, from Soria to Valbueno de Duero, the 2021 Alion is a full-bodied 100% Tempranillo of great finesse from an outstanding vintage noted for its balance and silkiness. Juicy red plum coats a palate of gorgeous length and breadth. Aged in both French and American oak for 12 months, with another 18 months in bottle, it shows the excellence of the year and the producer’s winemaking approach. Drinking well now, it will continue to develop over the next 15-20 years. Maturity: 2025 - 2045
95 James Suckling A pretty deep but fresh and harmonious wine that can be consumed early. It’s from a blend of Ribera del Duero vineyards. Fascinating aromas of fine spices, dark chocolate, dark cherries, blackberries and cedar wood. Medium- to full-bodied with fine, chalky tannins and a lasting finish. Impeccable balance. A textbook Ribera del Duero that gives a panoramic view of the region. Drink from 2025.
95 Decanter There's a very particular, alluring savoury appeal to this wine, with its distinct salty liquorice note hovering over dried oregano, thyme, black pepper, cardamom and dried violets. Well presented tannins, with a broody, toasty edge. Fresh and vibrant yet robust, with a fragrant persistence of wild roses and Earl Grey. Long, spicy finish with a long tail sprinkled with white pepper. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040
94 Wine Spectator Suave and harmonious, offering a silky mix of plumped cherry, plum and sassafras, plus a touch of cocoa powder defined by long, limber tannins. Refreshed by the tang of orange peel–infused acidity, this is fragrant through the lightly chewy finish, showing notes of wild thyme, iron, milled white pepper and dried violet. Drink now through 2040. 21,791 cases made, 1,228 cases imported.
