ALION RIBERA DEL DUERO 750ML 2021

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. This is a large production of 244,244 bottles, 7,075 magnums and some larger formats. It was bottled in June 2023.

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.

The 2021 Alión comes from Ribera del Duero. The nose is slightly liqueur-like, with herbs and red fruit complemented by oak and a cherry note. Forest floor emerges later. The palate is juicy and polished, with fine-grained tannins and a slightly compact mid-palate. It finishes with a well-integrated note of aged fruit.