Alion 2021 ist ein Rotwein aus der Region Ribera del Duero, der ausschließlich aus der Rebsorte Tinto Fino gekeltert wird. Diese lokale Rebsorte wird auf 130 Hektar Rebfläche in einer Höhe von etwa 750 Metern angebaut, die sich über 13 Dörfer erstreckt.
Im Jahr 2021 lagen die Weinberge im Januar und während des Sturms Filomena unter einer Schneedecke, wobei die Temperaturen auf -15 °C fielen; die kühlen Bedingungen hielten während der gesamten folgenden Vegetationsperiode an, und ab September gab es keinen Niederschlag mehr. Der Ertrag betrug 3.300 kg pro Hektar bzw. 23,1 hl/ha. Die Lese erfolgte von Hand vom 24. September bis zum 11. Oktober, und die Trauben wurden in 12-kg-Kisten verpackt.
Die Trauben wurden 24 Stunden lang gekühlt und entrappt, worauf eine fünftägige Kaltmazeration in Eichenfässern und Edelstahltanks folgte. Anschließend wurde die Gärung mit einheimischer Hefe nach der „Pied-de-Cuve“-Methode eingeleitet. Anschließend reifte der Wein 12 Monate lang. Der Ausbau erfolgte hauptsächlich in Fässern (75 % neue französische Fässer, 8 % amerikanische Fässer und 7 % Fässer im zweiten Jahr), wobei 7 % in Betontanks und 3 % in 4.000-Liter-Holzfoudres reiften.
Dieser Wein wird zwischen 2025 und 2040 seinen Höhepunkt erreichen. Wenn man ihn etwa eine Stunde lang in einem Dekanter atmen lässt, kommen seine Qualitäten noch besser zur Geltung.
Robert Parker (96)
The vintage released in 2025 is the 2021 Alión, a year to remember, one of the best in recent times; it 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, 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, 130 hectares. The grapes are cooled down for 24 hours, and once destemmed, they are put in the oak and stainless steel vats, where they undergo a five-day cold soak and then native fermentation through a "pied de cuve." It 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 years, 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. This is a large production of 244,244 bottles, 7,075 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in June 2023.
James Suckling (95)
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.
Jancis Robinson (18)
100% Tinto Fino. Vineyards averaging around 40 years old spread across different municipalities in the DO. Moradillo provides acidity and tension; Roa, concentration and tannin texture; while Pesquera and Nava complement with concentration and character. Alión is an interpretation from different harvest times. A very good vintage, although this year will be remembered for being the year of Storm Filomena. It reached extreme temperatures of -15 °C in January, but it was fantastic in terms of the wine. Aged for 12 months using 7% concrete, 3% wooden foudres of 4,000-litres and, for the rest, barrels, 8% of which were American oak, 75% new French oak, and 7% second-year barrels or ‘envinadas’. Subsequently, the wine was aged in bottle for 18 months. Production: 244,244 bottles, 7,075 magnums, 600 double magnums, 80 Imperials and 5 Salmanazars.
Very fine Alión, with less oak than usual and a profile of depth and subtlety. On the palate, sapidity, a touch of salinity, and fully integrated and smooth tannins. I love the way the oak is integrated, with much more subtlety than previous Alións. Fluidity, chalky texture, and lots of finesse on the palate. A touch of violet on the back palate and still very primary. One of the best Alións I can remember. (FC)
