Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Fresh and classy nose of cherries, currants and raspberries with hints of pepper. Full body, beautiful and fine-grained tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Delivers the Pingus magic! Drink now or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 PSI is a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha and perhaps 1% of other grapes found interplanted with the other varieties in the old vineyards, mostly white Albillo. The idea here is to protect the old vineyards that are disappearing from Ribera del Duero and provide some added value to the grapes coming from them. They have identified a grand total of only 56 hectares of Garnacha in Ribera del Duero, and they have rented 20 of those to save them, because they were set to be uprooted. It has great freshness and energy, with an herbal/leafy touch in the nose that also adds complexity. It's a wine that seems to improve from vintage to vintage, and I believe the jump will be noticeable when they produce it in their own winery from the 2015 vintage onward. The Garnacha always has a lower pH than the Tempranillo, and helps to provide an extra spark of freshness. This is an approachable Ribera, but keeping the character of yesteryear. This is really what Ribera del Duero used to be: all old vineyards and no new oak whatsoever. Kudos to that!
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.