Ribera del Duero is the main challenger to Rioja for quality wine production in Spain. Lying within Castile Leon in north west Spain, the appellation spreads across the broad valley either side of the river Duero (the famous Douro of Portugal). It is home to Spain’s “first growth” Vega Sicilia and now many other high quality estates such as Pesquera and Alion.
Tasting notes: Alion is fermented and rested in stainless steel vats, then matured in new Nevers oak barrels for 13 months, followed by further ageing in bottle until release.
A concentrated, dark and seductive wine whose ripe, fleshy fruit is wrapped in smooth toasty oak. Flavours of cherry, hazlenut and mocha.
Tasting notes: The saturated purple 2004 Valbuena offers up an expressive perfume of mineral, scorched earth, espresso, incense, and black cherry. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, intensely flavored, spicy wine with layers of fruit, soft tannins, and a pure, lengthy finish. It will benefit from another 5-7 years of bottle age and offer optimal drinking from 2015 to 2029. 94 pts RP
