Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Comparing the 2005 Pintia against the 2004, I prefer the aromatics of the 2005, which are beautiful – pure, lifted red fruit, briar, a touch of smoke and minerals. The palate is very well-balanced with supple ripe tannins and fine acidity. There is plenty of red-berry fruit here lending the 2005 an attractive fleshy texture, although there is something slightly foursquare about the finish, with hints of spice, black tea and cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. Still, this is the best of the mature Pintia wines.
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Wine Enthusiast
Very young but exuberant and balanced. Tasted in Spain well after bottling but before its March 2008 release, Pintia, Vega Sicilia’s Toro project, comes across as a bull of a wine with huge levels of color and extraction. Floral, mineral and violet aromas lead off, followed by deep berry fruit flavors and lots of rustic charred beef on the finish
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.
Spain's remote, high elevation Spanish wine zone between the regions of Bierzo and Ribera del Duero produces intense, full-bodied reds made from Tempranillo, locally called Tinta de Toro. This local variant has adapted to the region’s climatic extremes and recognizing its potential, top producers from Ribera del Duero and Rioja have invested heavily in its vineyards.