medium red with brick rim -nose of mature tempranillo black fruit, with some tobacco overtones - very smooth mouth with great fruit, acid, tannin balance - medium 5-10 sec finish - a fully mature Ribera that is drinking well now, but not as exciting as the 2002 Pintia drunk alongside
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18 años bien llevados. Cositas que aparecen al echarle mano al fondo de armario. Imprescindible abrirlo con el sacacorchos de lamas. De color granate con el ribete bastante abierto. La nariz es expresiva, con cierto aire a un clásico bordelés, hay bastante especiados, algo de frutilla roja licorosa, matices tostados, tabaco inglés y un fondo de flores ajadas. En boca el ataque es bueno, cuerpo medio, textura algo terrosa, tanino muy pulido, mantiene frescura, atractivos amargos, estructura media, con excelente presencia y notable longitud.
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Black cherry fruit with some nice supporting acidity. Tar, earthy and mineral. There is some surprising intensity for this vintage. In the end though, lacking persistence and finish a little short. Nevertheless, at 18 years of age, it really put in a good performance.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Tilia, Mpls): This was on the downslope; I think this was a pretty big wine, but the fruit has faded and this is showing alcohol and glycerin Dill, black cherry, black cherry liqueur, alcohol, glycerin. No score.
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Red to brown colour. Nice, attractive nose - tobacco, cedar and dark fruits. Smooth in the mouth - dark fruits, earthy, tobacco with an attractive medicinal note. Very long finish with a hint of vanilla. Lovely wine - drinking very well.
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Quite interesting comparing this with the 2011. Feminine with bright acidity and completely resolved tannin. No sediment problem with this one. Oak has integrated completely, not sure will improve.
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A private lunch (Restaurant Mugaritz **, Enterreria, Spain): Harmonious, rich, fresh, spicy, meaty, violets, good concentration and weight, fresh red fruit, velvety, perfectly integrated tannins, deep, smoky oak, great Tempranillo typicity, beautifully pure flavours and length. Fabulous Alion, a wonderful marriage of finesse and power.
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Drinking beatiful today. Opened for 2.5hrs devanting. Very heavy nose of cassis and tabbaco. The taste has very appealing butterscotch, strawberry, and chocolate. The finnish comes through for a full minute. Truly enjoyed this wine and would say it has another 5-10yrs of aging.
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Black in color. Nose of blackberry and coffee. Beautiful fruit at inception of blueberry and black cherry. Over time, fruit subsided to an earthy quality and charcoal revealed. A nice balanced wine that started strong, but became subdued.
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Took to CT SEA tasting to go with Jeff's chile. Pleasantly surprised at its sophistication when tasted in that setting. No formal notes, however, but similar to my last notes in my memory.
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Splash decanted and took to a restaurant. Dark blackish red color with no real signs of age. Was not able to take notes given setting but this was a beautiful, mature wine with a very nice black currant / black licorice / tobacco / earthy flavor profile on the nose & palate. This has improved substantially (in my opinion) over the last 3 year.s. Upping rating to 93+ and sad this was my last bottle!
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Monthly Tasting Group HWS #085; Spain: Ribera del Duero. (by EvA): Beautifully mature bouquet with ripe dark forest fruits, sweet spices, herbs and some tarmac. On the palate dark fruits as well, chocolate, anise and green herbs. Beautiful freshness and the acidity is really up front, but pleasant. A classical style of wine. Really nice.
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A nice wine. Still dark ruby in color. Nice nose of earth and cherry. Ready to drink with absence of tannin. Blended palate on the earthy/mineral side. some blackberry and cherry, but not as much fruit as I anticipated. Tasted very much like the 04 Alion drunk side by side.
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Decanted for 1.5 hours before dinner. Much better with air time and enjoyed with lamb chops. Tobacco, earthy, blackberry, charcoal & black licorice on nose - very complex nose. On palate, tobacco, blackberry, smokey with medium body, full tannins (integrated but strong) leading into a long finish. 92+ Has improved since my last tasting in 3/2010.
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received bottle as gift many years ago. Cellared for optimal consumption, but despite authoritative reviews to the contrary, my single bottle was over the top and fell apart after a short while in the glass.
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Opened beside a very nicely showing bottle of bordeaux (98 Ducru Beaucaillou) and this one did not seem out of palce at all. Great density still in the wine, a bit of rusticity that gave it some character compared to the sauce Bordeaux, (i.e. the 5 o'clock shawdow), while drinking well, in no particular rush either it seems as it held its power well through the night.
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Opened 3 of these up for a party over the weekend - lovely and mature - drinking beautifully. I have enjoyed this case over the years but it is at its best now. Will eek out the last 3.
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I bought a few bottles in 2005 while living in Madrid. Well worth the wait. Smooth tannins; blackberry, leather, cassis on the palate. Not as long a finish as I expected but still a big beautiful wine.
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Game dinner with a very large group (@ TM): This was a very disappointing bottle. Very mature in the bouquet as well as on the palate. Unpleasant organic smells. This bottle was past its prime and considering my previous notes and the other notes in CT, this was most likely an off bottle. I hope so. No score.
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Decanted 90 minutes. Dark, brooding and earthy, sweet black cherries, blackberries, currants, a hint of fig, leather, and wonderful eaRthiness. This has clearly aged, and aged nicely. I loved this rich, full bodied Ribera), and it is drinking perfectly now. (I was worried when I had some difficulty extracting the cork intact; there was no sign of leakage but if I had another bottle I would monitor it closely).
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Aromas of deep cherry that has a real darkness to it. Silky smooth on the palate. Black fruits and an earthy quality. Has the mouthfeel of bordeaux. A real classy wine. Long flavorful finish. ($30)
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Deep ruby color. Beautiful wine, singing now with lots of toasted notes on the nose and palate, cocoa, blackberry and blackcurrant. Slightly astringent on the palate but I've got to believe this is at or near peak.
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Dark, almost black with pale rim. Nose is black fruits, quite heady and creamy. Taste is blackberry, dark liquorice, firm tannins. A serious, big tannic wine but expected more given cost over £30. Needs more time.
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Alion 2002 (Spanje, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero) Kleur: Robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Expressief en complex, bedwelmend en rijp, animaal, zwart fruit, duidelijk Amerikaans hout, hout, vanille, zoet-kruidig Smaak / Afdronk: Vol, strak, prachtige balans en een meer dan gemiddelde lengte. Algemeen / potentieel: Opvallend mooie wijn uit een - in zijn algemeenheid - moeilijk jaar voor Spaanse wijn. Prima op dronk, wordt niet beter: nu drinken. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 15 + Algemeen / potentieel: 5 = 87/100
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Deep ruby color. Beautiful but shy wine, nose of autumn leaves, earth and mulling spices with some dark berries and floral notes as it got air. Good acid spine and tannic grip, this has life in it.
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Wonderful showing tonight. More in balance than at the end of last year with less sign of the heat from the alcohol. Blackcurrent and cocoa on the nose. And some signs of a secondary stage in additional tar and herbs. Lengthy smooth and silky finish. As others have noted, no signs of the 2002 vintage at all - and I wonder whether this doesn't have a longer life ahead of it than I originally thought. Outstanding.
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An absolutely superb ribera del duero - had both remaining bottles with our dinner club as part of a Spanish themed dinner featuring my paella. Not decanted but opened for four hours. Very bold and fruity nose w some chalk. Inky black, smooth, bold, well balanced and complex. Primary flavors connsisted of dark cherry, chalk, terroir, leather, tar, tobacco and black pepper. Highly recommend this wine but probably too expensive to be a really great QPR.
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An excellent Ribera del Duero. Fruity, complex and smooth. Less impactful than expected or in previous versions. Maybe 2002 is responsible as it wasn't an outstanding year. Believe it was the right moment to open the bottle. Now patient for the 2003 and 2004.
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Tasting Group Dinner - Spain (Solera, Minneapolis): Very dark color. Richly delineated flavors of black cherry fruit, licorice, and tobacco. Layered and well-structured. Showing some new oak. Good balance. Long finish. While this doesn't quite have the complexity or depth of fruit of the 2001, it is an excellent Ribera del Duero that totally transcends the character of the vintage.
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Brought to a local restaurant and matched with rack of lamb. Mostly oak, and dark fruit right now. A well structure well with plenty of acidity and gripping tannin. Closed down compared to one I tried a year or two ago. Very good to excellent.
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I opened, decanted and immediately knew i had opened 2 years too soon. Typical Tempranillo red fruit, notes of leather, heavy on the tannins. Give it time if you're storing it correctly, or decant for half a day and drink with food
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Unmistakable nose of Tempranillo. Dark purple-red color. Quite complex and good with food, but alcohol was too much for me. Short (5-10 sec.) aftertaste. Overpriced. It is possible to find 3 times cheaper wine of such quality.
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So wonderful at the end of last year. Took longer to open tonight, and less bordeaux-like than I remember [less cigar box and black fruit]. After 3 hours, gentle oak, some slightly stewed red and black fruit, and some chocolate. Maybe a little over warm from alcohol. Long finish. Outstanding.
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Dark, blackish garnet color. Vegetal aroma of chocolate, tar, and dark fruits. Flavor of dark cherries or plums and graphite. Velvety tannins with a long finish.
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PI. Rubi escuro, aromas marcados por café, tabaco e frutos negros. Na boca não espelha a safra ruim, mostrando boa concentração de fruta, acidez, médio corpo, com leve resinoso e um toque tostado e de especiarias. Aberto e servido em seguida, evoluiu bem na taça. Convém decantar. Excelente.
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Medium to deep ruby color. Fragrant nose of black cherry and incense with some floral notes as well. Well structured on the palate with medium body. Delicious food wine for drinking now.
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Brought to a restaurant. Pop and pour. Had I not known this is Spanish, I would have guess Bordeaux. Elevated nose of plum and graphite. Very complex. Slight vegetal nose of mung bean noted on second pour that went away by third pour. The nose kept evolving through the night. Very well structured minus the ripeness I appreciate from Napa. 14% alc got in the way a bit. Good acidity that went well with the venison. Tannin is well resolved! Ready to go. Did not improve the second day. Outstanding overall. Somewhat pricey for a Spanish wine.
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1/9/2021 - Verb Likes this wine: 92 Points
medium red with brick rim -nose of mature tempranillo black fruit, with some tobacco overtones - very smooth mouth with great fruit, acid, tannin balance - medium 5-10 sec finish - a fully mature Ribera that is drinking well now, but not as exciting as the 2002 Pintia drunk alongside
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11/9/2020 - PacoHigon Likes this wine:
18 años bien llevados. Cositas que aparecen al echarle mano al fondo de armario. Imprescindible abrirlo con el sacacorchos de lamas. De color granate con el ribete bastante abierto. La nariz es expresiva, con cierto aire a un clásico bordelés, hay bastante especiados, algo de frutilla roja licorosa, matices tostados, tabaco inglés y un fondo de flores ajadas. En boca el ataque es bueno, cuerpo medio, textura algo terrosa, tanino muy pulido, mantiene frescura, atractivos amargos, estructura media, con excelente presencia y notable longitud.
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5/13/2020 - acheng wrote: 90 Points
Black cherry fruit with some nice supporting acidity. Tar, earthy and mineral. There is some surprising intensity for this vintage. In the end though, lacking persistence and finish a little short. Nevertheless, at 18 years of age, it really put in a good performance.
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6/10/2018 - rocknroller wrote:
Monthly Tasting Group: Spain (Tilia, Mpls): This was on the downslope; I think this was a pretty big wine, but the fruit has faded and this is showing alcohol and glycerin Dill, black cherry, black cherry liqueur, alcohol, glycerin. No score.
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5/29/2016 - rjsmall Likes this wine:
Red to brown colour. Nice, attractive nose - tobacco, cedar and dark fruits. Smooth in the mouth - dark fruits, earthy, tobacco with an attractive medicinal note. Very long finish with a hint of vanilla. Lovely wine - drinking very well.
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6/21/2015 - acheng wrote: 90 Points
Quite interesting comparing this with the 2011. Feminine with bright acidity and completely resolved tannin. No sediment problem with this one. Oak has integrated completely, not sure will improve.
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5/14/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 93 Points
A private lunch (Restaurant Mugaritz **, Enterreria, Spain): Harmonious, rich, fresh, spicy, meaty, violets, good concentration and weight, fresh red fruit, velvety, perfectly integrated tannins, deep, smoky oak, great Tempranillo typicity, beautifully pure flavours and length. Fabulous Alion, a wonderful marriage of finesse and power.
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11/24/2014 - Jeffrey Silver Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking beatiful today. Opened for 2.5hrs devanting. Very heavy nose of cassis and tabbaco. The taste has very appealing butterscotch, strawberry, and chocolate. The finnish comes through for a full minute. Truly enjoyed this wine and would say it has another 5-10yrs of aging.
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4/19/2014 - cos82 wrote: 89 Points
Black in color. Nose of blackberry and coffee. Beautiful fruit at inception of blueberry and black cherry. Over time, fruit subsided to an earthy quality and charcoal revealed. A nice balanced wine that started strong, but became subdued.
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4/16/2014 - skifree wrote: 90 Points
Took to CT SEA tasting to go with Jeff's chile. Pleasantly surprised at its sophistication when tasted in that setting. No formal notes, however, but similar to my last notes in my memory.
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3/28/2014 - WimHH wrote: 88 Points
Too sweet, not able to distinguish itself as very special, PQR is therefore not good
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3/2/2014 - CWilliam wrote: 93 Points
Splash decanted and took to a restaurant. Dark blackish red color with no real signs of age. Was not able to take notes given setting but this was a beautiful, mature wine with a very nice black currant / black licorice / tobacco / earthy flavor profile on the nose & palate. This has improved substantially (in my opinion) over the last 3 year.s. Upping rating to 93+ and sad this was my last bottle!
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1/8/2014 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #085; Spain: Ribera del Duero. (by EvA): Beautifully mature bouquet with ripe dark forest fruits, sweet spices, herbs and some tarmac. On the palate dark fruits as well, chocolate, anise and green herbs. Beautiful freshness and the acidity is really up front, but pleasant. A classical style of wine. Really nice.
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12/22/2013 - CAQC wrote: 88 Points
Great spice, mediocre value
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12/22/2013 - WimHH Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs decanting!
Good complexity and balance, a little to sweet for me but very well made
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8/25/2013 - cos82 wrote: 90 Points
A nice wine. Still dark ruby in color. Nice nose of earth and cherry. Ready to drink with absence of tannin. Blended palate on the earthy/mineral side. some blackberry and cherry, but not as much fruit as I anticipated. Tasted very much like the 04 Alion drunk side by side.
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1/23/2013 - ecola Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tasted blind. Red berries, minerality, great acid, and a very smooth finish.
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1/19/2013 - ecola Likes this wine: 90 Points
Bordeaux like with sweet red cherry and earth. Medium body. Nice old world food wine.
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12/21/2012 - CWilliam Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 1.5 hours before dinner. Much better with air time and enjoyed with lamb chops. Tobacco, earthy, blackberry, charcoal & black licorice on nose - very complex nose. On palate, tobacco, blackberry, smokey with medium body, full tannins (integrated but strong) leading into a long finish. 92+ Has improved since my last tasting in 3/2010.
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11/15/2012 - Harley1199 wrote:
Historical & Vertical Alión Tasting (Bodega Santa Cecilia - Madrid): Surprisely violet nose at first. Meaty, smoky but reduced nose. Interesting but it's not my kind of Alion.
Al principio sorprendentemente nariz a violeta, cárnica, ahumada pero reducida.No es mi clase de Alion pero interesante.
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10/13/2012 - burgburgburg wrote: 88 Points
allowed 3 hours of bottle breath; tight and closed even after a six-hour meal; disappointed at this moment
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8/20/2012 - alfagirl wrote: 90 Points
My last 2002. Another beautiful and rich Alion. Luckily, I have some 2007s in my cellar.
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7/13/2012 - Duncan Disorderly wrote: 88 Points
received bottle as gift many years ago. Cellared for optimal consumption, but despite authoritative reviews to the contrary, my single bottle was over the top and fell apart after a short while in the glass.
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5/29/2012 - TheEngineer wrote: 92 Points
Opened beside a very nicely showing bottle of bordeaux (98 Ducru Beaucaillou) and this one did not seem out of palce at all. Great density still in the wine, a bit of rusticity that gave it some character compared to the sauce Bordeaux, (i.e. the 5 o'clock shawdow), while drinking well, in no particular rush either it seems as it held its power well through the night.
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2/27/2012 - lostgeographer wrote: 92 Points
Opened 3 of these up for a party over the weekend - lovely and mature - drinking beautifully. I have enjoyed this case over the years but it is at its best now. Will eek out the last 3.
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2/24/2012 - bwillia wrote: 90 Points
Drinking very nicely indeed. Not a strong vintage but this wine delivers anyway.
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1/2/2012 - alfagirl wrote: 90 Points
I bought a few bottles in 2005 while living in Madrid. Well worth the wait. Smooth tannins; blackberry, leather, cassis on the palate. Not as long a finish as I expected but still a big beautiful wine.
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11/25/2011 - Zweder wrote:
Game dinner with a very large group (@ TM): This was a very disappointing bottle. Very mature in the bouquet as well as on the palate. Unpleasant organic smells. This bottle was past its prime and considering my previous notes and the other notes in CT, this was most likely an off bottle. I hope so. No score.
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8/21/2011 - StainedGlass wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 90 minutes. Dark, brooding and earthy, sweet black cherries, blackberries, currants, a hint of fig, leather, and wonderful eaRthiness. This has clearly aged, and aged nicely. I loved this rich, full bodied Ribera), and it is drinking perfectly now. (I was worried when I had some difficulty extracting the cork intact; there was no sign of leakage but if I had another bottle I would monitor it closely).
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8/14/2011 - CWilliam wrote:
As prior taster noted, nice mature tempranillo. Excellent with grilled skirt steaks. Sorry for the poor notes! 90-91 range.
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2/3/2011 - ecola wrote: 91 Points
Aromas of deep cherry that has a real darkness to it. Silky smooth on the palate. Black fruits and an earthy quality. Has the mouthfeel of bordeaux. A real classy wine. Long flavorful finish. ($30)
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1/17/2011 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 85 Points
2002 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero (Spanje, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero) Kleur: Robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Boers en stallerig, super-rijp maar toch een beetje eendimensionaal. Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtige tannines, uitgesproken zuur, veel structuur / vlezig. Behoorlijk strak. Algemeen / potentieel: Neus belooft een rijpere wijn. Niet helemaal in balans. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 13 + Algemeen / potentieel: 6 = 85/100
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1/6/2011 - edge wrote: 92 Points
Showing no signs of decline. A wonderful mature Tempranillo
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9/17/2010 - dougsmith wrote: 92 Points
Deep ruby color. Beautiful wine, singing now with lots of toasted notes on the nose and palate, cocoa, blackberry and blackcurrant. Slightly astringent on the palate but I've got to believe this is at or near peak.
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6/7/2010 - popasq wrote: 93 Points
Gorgeous. Did not decant but would be even better opened a few hours.
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8/22/2009 - bacchus of knockholt wrote: 87 Points
Dark, almost black with pale rim. Nose is black fruits, quite heady and creamy. Taste is blackberry, dark liquorice, firm tannins. A serious, big tannic wine but expected more given cost over £30. Needs more time.
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7/12/2009 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 87 Points
Alion 2002 (Spanje, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero) Kleur: Robijnrood Aroma / bouquet: Expressief en complex, bedwelmend en rijp, animaal, zwart fruit, duidelijk Amerikaans hout, hout, vanille, zoet-kruidig Smaak / Afdronk: Vol, strak, prachtige balans en een meer dan gemiddelde lengte. Algemeen / potentieel: Opvallend mooie wijn uit een - in zijn algemeenheid - moeilijk jaar voor Spaanse wijn. Prima op dronk, wordt niet beter: nu drinken. 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 12 + Smaak / Afdronk: 15 + Algemeen / potentieel: 5 = 87/100
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5/3/2009 - skifree wrote: 88 Points
Very dark wine. Taste is muted, this speaks softly. Forest floor, fungi, currant, hint of vanilla on second night. It bordered on excellent.
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4/24/2009 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Beautiful but shy wine, nose of autumn leaves, earth and mulling spices with some dark berries and floral notes as it got air. Good acid spine and tannic grip, this has life in it.
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3/29/2009 - alion wrote: 92 Points
Last bottle. Shame - as this still has lots of life in it. Damson and plum, silky. Long finish. Lovely.
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8/22/2008 - alion wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful showing tonight. More in balance than at the end of last year with less sign of the heat from the alcohol. Blackcurrent and cocoa on the nose. And some signs of a secondary stage in additional tar and herbs. Lengthy smooth and silky finish. As others have noted, no signs of the 2002 vintage at all - and I wonder whether this doesn't have a longer life ahead of it than I originally thought. Outstanding.
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8/21/2008 - ikkaariainen wrote: 91 Points
An absolutely superb ribera del duero - had both remaining bottles with our dinner club as part of a Spanish themed dinner featuring my paella. Not decanted but opened for four hours. Very bold and fruity nose w some chalk. Inky black, smooth, bold, well balanced and complex. Primary flavors connsisted of dark cherry, chalk, terroir, leather, tar, tobacco and black pepper. Highly recommend this wine but probably too expensive to be a really great QPR.
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7/28/2008 - Pedro G wrote: 90 Points
An excellent Ribera del Duero. Fruity, complex and smooth. Less impactful than expected or in previous versions. Maybe 2002 is responsible as it wasn't an outstanding year. Believe it was the right moment to open the bottle. Now patient for the 2003 and 2004.
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6/22/2008 - Siggy wrote: 93 Points
Tasting Group Dinner - Spain (Solera, Minneapolis): Very dark color. Richly delineated flavors of black cherry fruit, licorice, and tobacco. Layered and well-structured. Showing some new oak. Good balance. Long finish. While this doesn't quite have the complexity or depth of fruit of the 2001, it is an excellent Ribera del Duero that totally transcends the character of the vintage.
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5/31/2008 - acheng wrote: 87 Points
Brought to a local restaurant and matched with rack of lamb. Mostly oak, and dark fruit right now. A well structure well with plenty of acidity and gripping tannin. Closed down compared to one I tried a year or two ago. Very good to excellent.
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3/14/2008 - Stickan wrote: 90 Points
Good nose, medium aftertaste. Young, need more years. Firm tannins that need food, no oak too speak off in this good Ribera wine.
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2/13/2008 - vbellore wrote: 92 Points
I opened, decanted and immediately knew i had opened 2 years too soon. Typical Tempranillo red fruit, notes of leather, heavy on the tannins. Give it time if you're storing it correctly, or decant for half a day and drink with food
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12/23/2007 - G.O. wrote: 88 Points
Unmistakable nose of Tempranillo. Dark purple-red color. Quite complex and good with food, but alcohol was too much for me. Short (5-10 sec.) aftertaste. Overpriced. It is possible to find 3 times cheaper wine of such quality.
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12/7/2007 - alion wrote:
So wonderful at the end of last year. Took longer to open tonight, and less bordeaux-like than I remember [less cigar box and black fruit]. After 3 hours, gentle oak, some slightly stewed red and black fruit, and some chocolate. Maybe a little over warm from alcohol. Long finish. Outstanding.
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10/10/2007 - AtlantaBill wrote: 90 Points
Dark, blackish garnet color. Vegetal aroma of chocolate, tar, and dark fruits. Flavor of dark cherries or plums and graphite. Velvety tannins with a long finish.
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7/29/2007 - Vinho wrote: 91 Points
PI. Rubi escuro, aromas marcados por café, tabaco e frutos negros. Na boca não espelha a safra ruim, mostrando boa concentração de fruta, acidez, médio corpo, com leve resinoso e um toque tostado e de especiarias. Aberto e servido em seguida, evoluiu bem na taça. Convém decantar. Excelente.
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7/10/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 91 Points
Medium to deep ruby color. Fragrant nose of black cherry and incense with some floral notes as well. Well structured on the palate with medium body. Delicious food wine for drinking now.
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2/9/2007 - acheng wrote: 92 Points
Brought to a restaurant. Pop and pour. Had I not known this is Spanish, I would have guess Bordeaux. Elevated nose of plum and graphite. Very complex. Slight vegetal nose of mung bean noted on second pour that went away by third pour. The nose kept evolving through the night. Very well structured minus the ripeness I appreciate from Napa. 14% alc got in the way a bit. Good acidity that went well with the venison. Tannin is well resolved! Ready to go. Did not improve the second day. Outstanding overall. Somewhat pricey for a Spanish wine.
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