Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2023 Flor de Pingus is made from over 20 hectares of old Tinta del País vines and 15 hectares of Garnacha in Ribera del Duero. It was aged in 10–15% new oak. Violets, fresh plum and a delicate touch of oak open on the nose. Fine-grained reactive tannins define the texture. A red with charming nuances and evolving character.
Barrel Sample: 94-95 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Flor de Pingus is pretty, juicy, ripe and approachable, less serious than the 2022. It's all really balanced and integrated and has good purity. The wine spent eight months in oak barrels, and in 2023, they introduced six 2,000-liter oak vats for the élevage of part of the wine, which represents around 15% of the volume, where it matured for 12 months. It's an approachable vintage of Flor. All in all, the élevage was a little shorter this year.
Barrel Sample: 93-94
Notoriously food-friendly, long-lasting and Spain’s most widely planted grape, Tempranillo is the star variety of red wines from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. The Rioja terms Joven, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva indicate both barrel and bottle time before release. Traditionally blended in Rioja with Garnacha, plus a bit of Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, the Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero typically stands alone. Somm Secret—Tempranillo claims many different names depending on location. In Penedès, it is called Ull de Llebre and in Valdepeñas, goes by Cencibel. Known as Tinta Roriz in Portugal, Tempranillo plays an important role in Port wine.
Ribera del Duero, Spanish wine region, is located in northen Spain’s Castilla y León region, just a 2-hour drive from Madrid. While winemaking in this area goes back more than 2000 years, it was in the 1980s that 9 wineries applied for and were granted Denominación de Origen (D.O.) status. Today, more than 300 wineries call Ribera del Duero home, including some of Spain’s most iconic names.
Notable Facts Ribera’s main grape variety, Tempranillo, locally know as Tinto Fino, is perfectly suited to the extreme climate of the region, where it must survive scorching summers and frigid winters. Low yields resulting from conscientious tending to old vines planted in Ribera’s diverse soils types, give Ribera wines a distinctive depth and complexity not found in other Tempranillos. Rich and full-bodied, the spice, dark fruit and smoky flavors in a bold Ribera del Duero will pair well with roasted and grilled meats, Mexican food and tomato-based sauces.