Winemaker Notes
The 2021 vintage is defined by a fresh, vertical expression that made the harvest a true pleasure. Ripening was exceptional, and as we tasted the grapes in the vineyard, they found them to be intensely fruity, juicy, and remarkably elegant in texture. The first impression among the vines was soon confirmed in the winery during vinification. This is one of the finest Pintia wines to date. Pintia lovers across the world —this is a vintage to celebrate!
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Excellent and refined, showing deep, fresh blackberries with tar, dark minerals, cocoa powder and roasted spices. Full-bodied with tight but fine-grained tannins. Lasting well in the finish. Drink from 2027.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The current release is the 2021 Pintia, for them an exceptional vintage in Toro, one of their finest to date. It was cropped from a cooler year when the wine has more freshness despite the 15% alcohol, with a pH of 3.83 and 4.7 grams of acidity. It fermented in stainless steel and oak vats and matured partly in stainless steel (15%), barrels and foudres with 75% new oak, for 11 months. Three episodes of rain in September really made the vintage, something unusual in the zone, putting the icing on the cake of a cooler year. The wine is always more powerful than the wines from Ribera or Rioja, with more oomph, density and abundant tannins but with very good balance and freshness. It's a Pintia for the long haul, like a 2018 with more weight.
Rating: 95+
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.