Ribera del Duero

Spain
Ribera del Duero
2019

A more concentrated vintage due to drier conditions in the area. Maceration was shorter and elevage was partly done in concrete to reduce the heavy oak impact. A powerful and juicy vintage.

95 points
"Ripe, tarry plums and black cherries with violets, rocks, coffee and graphite. Refined notes of balsamic fruit and cocoa powder, too. Full-bodied and juicy with an iron fist of tannins, yet at the same time so velvety and polished. Very long, focused finish, showing lots of finesse and layers. Drinkable now, but better after 2025."
James Suckling,
www.jamessuckling.com,
November 20, 2022
94 points
"Alión is a pan-Ribera blend, using grapes spread over 70 hectares, principally in the Burgos villages of La Aguilera, Moradillo de Roa and Roa. Aged in a combination of concrete and 70% new French and 5% American oak, this was picked early to counter the heat of the vintage. It's bright, focused and acid-driven, with scented wood and blueberry and black cherry fruit. Will age gracefully for a decade or more. 2024-35"
Tim Atkin,
Tim Atkin
Ribera del Duero Report
94 points
"The 2019 Alión was cropped from a drier vintage compared with the average, and the wines from that year tend to be powerful, concentrated and with structure. They shortened the maceration by 11 days and used concrete for part of the élevage, trying to reduce the impact from the oak in the wine. They define 2019 as a powerful, concentrated and juicy vintage, sensual and unctuous. The wine is ripe at 15% alcohol and has mellow acidity (4.4 grams) and a pH of 3.88, reflecting the warm and dry year that delivered powerful and concentrated wines, similar to the wines from 2015. It's quite fruit-driven, ripe and juicy, with abundant, slightly dusty tannins despite the limited pumping over they did to avoid extracting too much, and the maceration was also shortened. 256,526 bottles, 7,005 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2021."
Luis Gutiérrez,
www.robertparker.com,
January 31, 2023
92 points
"While tightly meshed and structured by firm, chalky tannins, this red has a plush, polished frame matched to a pretty range of boysenberry coulis, violet, mocha and Earl Grey flavors. Reveals hints of tar and black licorice that linger on the juicy finish. Drink now through 2029. 21,377 cases made, 1,360 cases imported."
Alison Napjus,
www.winespectator.com,

SKU/Code: 
DB7657-19
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Tempranillo
Farming Type: 
Organic