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Structure
Drinking window
Best 5 to 20 years from vintage.
vintage5 yrs20 yrs22 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: blackberry, blueberry, cedar, vanilla, violet, spice
Palate: black cherry, dark chocolate, graphite, dried herbs, toasted oak
A modern, Bordeaux-influenced 100% Tinto Fino Reserva from Vega Sicilia's sister estate, with ripe black fruit, new French oak structure and a clean mineral finish.
What it pairs with
-
Grilled ribeye steak
The wine's firm tannins and black fruit are an ideal match for charred beef. -
Slow-cooked lamb shoulder
Tender Castilian lamb and the wine's cedar and fruit complexity are natural partners. -
Aged Manchego or Idiazabal
Firm sheep's milk cheeses mirror the wine's full structure and spice.
How to serve Alion Reserva
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Grilled ribeye steak, Slow-cooked lamb shoulder, Aged Manchego or Idiazabal. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Founded in 1991 as a separate estate project within the Vega Sicilia group, Alion was conceived to produce a modern, single-variety Tinto Fino wine aged in French barriques rather than the traditional oak regime of Unico. It brought a different stylistic approach to the group's portfolio.
- 1991: Bodegas Alion founded as the second estate of the Vega Sicilia group
- 1991: First vintage of Alion Reserva produced
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Alion · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Tinto Fino (100%)
- Classification
- DO Ribera del Duero
- Oak
- 14 months in new French oak barriques
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- €60-100 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1991
Frequently asked about Alion Reserva
What does Alion Reserva taste like?
On the nose, blackberry, blueberry, cedar, vanilla, violet. On the palate, black cherry, dark chocolate, graphite, dried herbs, toasted oak. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, medium acidity with a long finish. A modern, Bordeaux-influenced 100% Tinto Fino Reserva from Vega Sicilia's sister estate, with ripe black fruit, new French oak structure and a clean mineral finish.
When should I drink Alion Reserva?
Drink 5-20 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Alion Reserva?
Grilled ribeye steak is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Slow-cooked lamb shoulder and Aged Manchego or Idiazabal. The wine's firm tannins and black fruit are an ideal match for charred beef.
What grapes are in Alion Reserva?
The blend is Tinto Fino (100%). The wine is classified as DO Ribera del Duero.
Tags
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