Admittedly not drunk under optimal conditions and the wine was a touch on the cold side. Ideally at this age we would suggest one decants this for more than a good hour. Big wine as expected but not heavy, rich but in no way Porter burnt fruit ridden ( like its cousins across the border) and has an easy going side along with its youthful brightness. Good use of oak, prominent at this stage, but still value adding . Good wine even at this young age and an easy 91
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Same tasting notes as my last bottle on August 16, 2023, except the wine was less dense and more open. This bottle would need a few more years for the elements to integrate. Good potential long term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aiolos walkaround tasting (Aiolos HQ): Warmth, thick oak frame, black fruit core, spice frame, whole spice, peppery, licorice, some milky notes (!) Palate showing juicy notes, black fruit, cherry notes but again full-on spice, acidity, tight tannins but not big, very warm, long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Appearance: Bright and clear, the wine is of deep ruby colour, with narrow fading rim and legs. Nose: Clean, with medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit of blackberry, bilberry, blackcurrant, oak notes of cedar, hints of maturity notes of tobacco, pungent spice of black pepper, kernel notes of chocolate. The wine is developing. Palate: Dry with medium (+) acidity, the wine has medium (+) tannin of ripe and silky texture, high in alcohol, full body, with medium (+) intensity flavours of black fruit of blackberry, bilberry and ripe dark cherries, oak notes of vanilla, kernel notes of chocolate. The wine has a medium finish. Conclusion: Very good quality Ribera del Duero with intense aromas of black fruit and good oak characters showing the use of new French barrels, hints of development because of its relatively young age. On the palate the wine is powerful though well-balanced, with finesse on its tannin and good concentration of flavours and a reasonable length on the finish. It is ready to drink now but can benefit from further ageing of another 5-7 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Alion 2019 from the famous Vega Sicilia in Ribera del Duero. On day 1, the alcohol turned out to be far too much, despite 1 - 2 hours in the carafe. Put the wine back in the fridge with a cork and let it sit for five days before trying again. Now the wine showed itself from its right side, now more homogeneous, the alcohol more integrated, even the barrels were less tangible. Dark fruit, classic blackberry, tart dark cherries, tobacco, a light herbal touch and a lingering finish. This is high quality, which needs at least 3 - 4 more years in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red, ruby color. Need some time to open up. Full body. Consentrated fruity smell. Red and black berries. Cherry, tobacco and cedartree. Balanced and long. It reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Great wine! I guess this wiill continue to develop further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Purple rim, dark purplish red. Oak, dark cherry, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, Ribena, tobacco, fresh herbs and vanilla. Full bodied and complex. Long finish. 15% alcohol content. This bottle would need a few years in cellar. The question is whether there would be enough acid to balance the wine into the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vega Sicilia dinner with Pablo Alvarez (Monterey Restaurant, New York): Much more complete wine compared to the 2018 Macon Rioja paired alongside. Robust dark red fruit and lots of body. Black cherries and chocolate on the earthy long finish. Robust tannins suggest a long life ahead. Vega Sicilia dinner with Pablo Alvarez
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/31/2024 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Admittedly not drunk under optimal conditions and the wine was a touch on the cold side. Ideally at this age we would suggest one decants this for more than a good hour.
Big wine as expected but not heavy, rich but in no way Porter burnt fruit ridden ( like its cousins across the border) and has an easy going side along with its youthful brightness. Good use of oak, prominent at this stage, but still value adding . Good wine even at this young age and an easy 91
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2024 - GuanYu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Same tasting notes as my last bottle on August 16, 2023, except the wine was less dense and more open. This bottle would need a few more years for the elements to integrate. Good potential long term.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2024 - kostaslonis wrote:
Aiolos walkaround tasting (Aiolos HQ): Warmth, thick oak frame, black fruit core, spice frame, whole spice, peppery, licorice, some milky notes (!)
Palate showing juicy notes, black fruit, cherry notes but again full-on spice, acidity, tight tannins but not big, very warm, long finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/2/2024 - peterchoy wrote: 93 Points
Appearance: Bright and clear, the wine is of deep ruby colour, with narrow fading rim and legs.
Nose: Clean, with medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit of blackberry, bilberry, blackcurrant, oak notes of cedar, hints of maturity notes of tobacco, pungent spice of black pepper, kernel notes of chocolate. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry with medium (+) acidity, the wine has medium (+) tannin of ripe and silky texture, high in alcohol, full body, with medium (+) intensity flavours of black fruit of blackberry, bilberry and ripe dark cherries, oak notes of vanilla, kernel notes of chocolate. The wine has a medium finish.
Conclusion: Very good quality Ribera del Duero with intense aromas of black fruit and good oak characters showing the use of new French barrels, hints of development because of its relatively young age. On the palate the wine is powerful though well-balanced, with finesse on its tannin and good concentration of flavours and a reasonable length on the finish. It is ready to drink now but can benefit from further ageing of another 5-7 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/27/2023 - SirJ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Alion 2019 from the famous Vega Sicilia in Ribera del Duero. On day 1, the alcohol turned out to be far too much, despite 1 - 2 hours in the carafe. Put the wine back in the fridge with a cork and let it sit for five days before trying again. Now the wine showed itself from its right side, now more homogeneous, the alcohol more integrated, even the barrels were less tangible. Dark fruit, classic blackberry, tart dark cherries, tobacco, a light herbal touch and a lingering finish. This is high quality, which needs at least 3 - 4 more years in the cellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2023 - The Vinocrat Likes this wine: 93 Points
very strong American oak, which will hopefully integrate gbetter over time, but otherwise a great wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/26/2023 - preid Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark red, ruby color. Need some time to open up. Full body. Consentrated fruity smell. Red and black berries. Cherry, tobacco and cedartree. Balanced and long. It reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Great wine! I guess this wiill continue to develop further.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/16/2023 - GuanYu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purple rim, dark purplish red. Oak, dark cherry, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, Ribena, tobacco, fresh herbs and vanilla. Full bodied and complex. Long finish. 15% alcohol content. This bottle would need a few years in cellar. The question is whether there would be enough acid to balance the wine into the future.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/17/2023 - nywine68 wrote: 94 Points
Vega Sicilia dinner with Pablo Alvarez (Monterey Restaurant, New York): Much more complete wine compared to the 2018 Macon Rioja paired alongside. Robust dark red fruit and lots of body. Black cherries and chocolate on the earthy long finish. Robust tannins suggest a long life ahead. Vega Sicilia dinner with Pablo Alvarez
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment