Pingus 2022

Dominio de Pingus is located in the heart of Ribera del Duero, on the Castilian plateau in northern Spain, not far from the town of Roa. The vineyards, planted at high altitude on soils combining clay, limestone, and sand, benefit from a continental climate marked by significant temperature fluctuations. This demanding terroir, with naturally low yields, produces highly concentrated grapes. The historic Tempranillo plots, often old vines, are cultivated biodynamically, giving rise to one of the region's most sought-after cuvées.

Made from very old Tempranillo vines harvested manually in small crates, this wine is produced by fermentation in wooden vats with indigenous yeasts and delicate punch-downs. Maturation then takes place in new, mostly new, French oak barrels in the estate's cellars, with precise plot-by-plot monitoring and limited racking to preserve the purity of the fruit, the velvety texture, and the truest possible expression of the Ribera del Duero terroir.

This wine reveals notes of ripe dark fruits, plum, and blackberry, complemented by floral touches of violet, spicy nuances of pepper and licorice, as well as a chocolatey and vanilla woodiness from barrel aging. On the palate, the texture is ample and deep, supported by dense yet finely polished tannins, well-integrated acidity, and a long savory finish that highlights the wine's concentration and balance.

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.