|
|
94 Points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
"The 2007 Pintia has a deep garnet core. The bouquet is powerful, almost as intense as the 2004, but it exhibits greater delineation and perhaps even more complexity. There are gorgeous notes of dark cherries, cassis and touches of dried violets. The palate is medium-bodied with a rounded mouthfeel – a smooth, suave Pintia with layers of red fruit laced with dried herbs, cedar and a hint of Moroccan spice. The tannins are soft but define the 2007 at the moment. There remains some oak to be subsumed towards the finish, which exerts a firm grip. This deserves two or three years longer in bottle – this is a little harlot of a wine!"
|
|
|
95 points, Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
"If I was asked to hold up a bottle of what modern Ribera del Duero should taste like and what is should aspire to, the 2008 Alion would be the one in my hand. It has more intensity and volume on the nose when compared directly with the 2007. Tasted in February 2012, and then in January 2013, it remains a fabulous expression of Ribera del Duero. It boasts of heavenly bouquet of black plum, crushed violets and tobacco that soar from the glass, while displaying a level of delineation that would serve a lesson to many of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, silky-smooth tannins that belie the structure underneath. The acidity lends the 2008 a little more edginess than the 2007, while the finish has a wonderful sense of symmetry and focus. World class. Drink 2016-2025+.
|
|
|
99 points, Jay Miller, The Wine Advocate
"The 2011 Release of the Unico Reserva Especial is a blend of vintages 1991, 1994, and 1998. It is a rich, spicy, and complex wine with impeccable balance and another 20 years of life. It simply does not get any better. When you consider that the Reserva Especial sells for less than half the price of a Bordeaux First Growth (and you don’t have to wait for 20 years for it to be approachable) it is one of the great bargains in world-class wine.
Bodegas Vega Sicilia’s Valbuena receives 3 years in barrel and 2 years in bottle prior to release. Each year Vega Sicilia releases a small amount of a multi-vintage Unico Reserva Especial blended to reflect the house style of Vega Sicilia at its very best. The vagaries of vintage are blended away leaving a wine that is, in my opinion, better than any of the single vintage wines except in the very greatest years. It is a fascinating exercise to taste the Unico beside the Reserva Especial."
|
