Flor de Pingus 2022

Located in the heart of Ribera del Duero, in the province of Burgos, Dominio de Pingus cultivates small plots of old Tempranillo vines, locally called Tinto Fino, around the village of La Horra. The Flor de Pingus vines are planted on soils combining deep clay and limestone, at a high altitude that provides freshness and thermal amplitude. This continental terroir, marked by hot summers and cool nights, allows for slow grape ripening and gives the wine a combination of concentration, elegance, and finesse.

Made from old Tempranillo vines cultivated biodynamically, this wine is produced from hand-picked, carefully sorted grapes. The grapes are destemmed then fermented in stainless steel tanks with gentle extractions to preserve the purity of the fruit and the expression of the terroir. The aging then takes place in oak barrels, mostly French, for a period that refines the tannins and gains aromatic complexity, while maintaining the freshness and energy characteristic of the house style.

This wine reveals notes of ripe black fruits, juicy red fruits, and plum, enhanced by spicy touches of licorice and sweet pepper, as well as woody nuances of cedar and vanilla. There is also a fresher and more complex dimension with floral accents and a subtle mineral thread. On the palate, the texture is ample and silky, supported by fine tannins, balanced acidity, and a long, savory finish that retains beautiful tension.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.