Part of the Vega Sicilia family, Bodegas y Viñedos Alión crafts the Alión Ribera del Duero 2022 from an expansive mosaic of estate and selected vineyards across Ribera del Duero. Rooted at roughly 750 meters of elevation, the 40-year-old vines grow in deep, well-drained soils composed of clay, limestone, and quartzite gravels deposited by the Duero River. Drawing from diverse sub-zones within the appellation endows the wine with remarkable depth, marrying cooler, fresher lots with more concentrated fruit from warmer sites.

Crafted exclusively from 100% Tinto Fino, the Alión Ribera del Duero 2022 hails from a vintage marked by intense warmth and dry conditions, to which the various vineyards responded quite differently. While higher-altitude, cooler parcels maintained their normal ripening pace, heat stress in warmer sites slowed maturation at times. To counterbalance the vintage’s natural concentration, the winery employed particularly gentle vinification and a more restrained oak regimen.

On the nose, the Alión Ribera del Duero 2022 opens with ripe black and red fruit—blackberry, plum, and dark cherry—joined by violets, fresh herbs, and delicate spices. With aeration, notes of graphite, licorice, dark chocolate, and subtle balsamic nuances emerge. While the fruit possesses abundant ripeness and concentration, it never feels heavy or overblown.

On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and powerful yet remarkably supple. Dark fruit is carried by precise freshness, while finely polished tannins provide structure and length. Blackberry and black cherry meld with graphite, licorice, and refined spice, creating a dense, velvety texture that never loses its sense of tension. On the long finish, mineral and balsamic nuances step increasingly to the fore.

Aging took place over roughly 12 to 14 months in a combination of French oak barrels, larger wooden vats, and concrete tanks. In this warm vintage, the proportion of new oak was deliberately reduced so that the concentrated fruit and natural freshness of the Tinto Fino would remain front and center, followed by extended bottle maturation prior to release.

The Alión Ribera del Duero 2022 thus showcases the powerful side of a warm Ribera vintage without sacrificing elegance or freshness—uniting dense dark fruit, refined tannins, mineral savor, and a supple texture in a profound, modern Ribera del Duero with outstanding aging potential.