Pintia 2015

PARKER (94)

The only wine produced here is the 2015 Pintia, which, in the warm and dry 2015, reaches 15% alcohol and has moderate acidity and a creamy, soft texture, with plenty of concentration, ripeness and tannins. It fermented in oak vats and matured in oak barrels (new and used, French and American) for 12 months. It was a powerful vintage, and they did part of the malolactic fermentation in oak vats instead of 100% in barrique to keep some of the freshness, and they also have 15,000 liters of wine that can mature in stainless steel and rotate some lots in vat before they are put in barrique. All this goes in the direction of keeping the freshness of the wine in a zone where power comes naturally, and all the tools are welcomed, including the use of different toast in the barrels. All this seems to have paid off, and even if the wine is powerful and tannic, it has good balance and the tannins are fine-grained. This has reached a good balance between power and elegance. 203,857 bottles, 6,496 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in May 2017.

The Producer

Pintia is the labour of love of the great Vega Sicilia. Not content with making Spain’s most famous fine wine in their home territory of Ribera del Duero, they’ve been tempted westward by the outstanding potential of sleepy Toro. A combination of ancient bush vines, year long sunlight and cooling, high altitude makes reds of astonishing darkness and richness. So much so that Columbus took them when he sailed to America – they were said to be the only wines that could survive the trip. Pintia is made purely from Tinto del Toro, harvested from vines over 40 years old. Grapes go through two selections – in the vineyard and the winery – with ageing for a year in mostly French oak, new and seasoned. Dense, rich yet with freshness and balance.