Alion 2021 is een rode wijn uit Ribera del Duero, uitsluitend geproduceerd van de druivensoort Tinto Fino, een lokale variëteit die wordt verbouwd op 130 hectare wijngaarden op een hoogte van ongeveer 750 meter, verspreid over 13 dorpen.
In 2021 lagen de wijngaarden in januari en tijdens storm Filomena onder een dikke laag sneeuw, waarbij de temperatuur daalde tot -15 °C, en de koele omstandigheden hielden gedurende het daaropvolgende groeiseizoen aan; vanaf september viel er geen regen meer. De opbrengst bedroeg 3.300 kg per hectare, ofwel 23,1 hl/ha. De oogst vond met de hand plaats van 24 september tot 11 oktober, en de druiven werden verpakt in kisten van 12 kg.
De druiven werden 24 uur gekoeld en ontsteeld, waarna een koude maceratie van 5 dagen volgde in eikenhouten vaten en roestvrijstalen tanks. Vervolgens werd de gisting met lokale gist op gang gebracht volgens de ‘pied de cuve’-methode. De wijn heeft vervolgens 12 maanden gerijpt. De rijping vond voornamelijk plaats in vaten (75% nieuwe Franse vaten, 8% Amerikaanse vaten en 7% vaten van het tweede jaar), terwijl 7% in betonnen tanks en 3% in houten foudres van 4.000 liter rijpte.
Deze wijn komt tussen 2025 en 2040 optimaal tot zijn recht. Door de wijn ongeveer een uur in een karaf te laten ademen, komen de kwaliteiten nog beter tot hun recht.
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)
