Vega Sicilia Alion Ribera del Duero Tempranillo 2020

96 Wine Enthusiast Aromas of black cherry, rose petal and anisette prep the taste buds for black cherry, cassis, cocoa bean, clove and lavender flavors. Plush tannins take hold of the palate and drift into a candied orange finish.

95 Wine Advocate 2020 was drier than average until the harvest, when it rained and diluted the grapes, and they had to wait to regain concentration. The result is that the 2020 Alion is a wine with better balance and freshness. They felt the skins were very ripe and they could extract more and use a little more American oak (4%) in the elevage. From 2019, they kept the press wine separate until June, and they keep separate quantities of press wines that are aged in different containers depending on the quality of the wine. They used a percentage of concrete and oak vats for the elevage, which gives the wine more verticality and freshness. It's a subtle and elegant Alion, not as dense as some other vintages, but with nice balance and very elegant tannins.

94 James Suckling There’s a finesse and polish to this red with blackberries, black olives, iron and terra-cotta. Medium to full body, with slightly chewy tannins and a savory finish. It will soften nicely with time. Try after 2025.

93 Wine Spectator A graceful red, with a pure beam of creme de cassis gliding across the plush palate, accented by notes of sassafrass, pomegranate, tar-tinged smoke and dried sage. This is well-tailored, offering fine-grained, sculpted tannins that provide form, plus pretty hints of violet and spices that linger on the lush finish. Drink now through 2034. 25,185 cases made, 1,756 cases imported.

93 Vinous The 2020 Alion is made with grapes from several different plots in Padilla de Duero, Valbuena de Duero and Pesquera de Duero and was aged in barrels and foudres, with a small portion going into concrete vats. Garnet-red in hue. The aromas feature notes of sour cherry and blackberry, along with wild herbs and undergrowth. The palate is dry and chalky, with mild freshness and a rich, taut mouthfeel that precedes a polished, smooth, long-lasting and complex finish. This is Vega Sicilia's modern approach to Ribera del Duero.