I tasted the 2013 Pingus one week before the wine was to be bottled, but one never knows. I tasted the 2012 under the same circumstances last year, and after my tasting, Peter Sisseck decided the wine needed some more time, so the élevage was extended and the bottling delayed. I was told this should be very close to the bottled version. The nose is aromatic, expressive and open, quite perfumed and subtle, with no traces of oak (the wine now ages in used barriques); even the spices are very much in the background. The Pingus vineyards behaved quite well in a difficult vintage, as great vineyards are a lot more homogeneous, so the vines are very balanced: the two vineyards used for Pingus, San Cristobal and Barroso, were planted in 1929 with two different massale selections. The palate is also approachable and gentle, with very good acidity and very fine tannins, elegance and character. I think there will be very few (or none!) wines in Ribera in 2013 like this Pingus. Well done! Three weeks later, I received an email letting me know that the wine had been bottled, so I proceeded to taste the bottle version, which showed what the sample promised. 2013 will be a vintage, that in Ribera del Duero, will show the differences of the work in the vineyards and what they do at Pingus clearly paid off. Even after the recent operation, the wine is harmonious and feels very balanced; there is no dizziness and it keeps the poise. A real triumph for the vintage. 6,600 bottles were filled at the end of July 2015.

The winery is located in Quintanilla de Onesimo but the grapes are sourced from La Horra.  Tinta del País. Sourced from two very old parcels planted in 1929. Whole cluster fermentation. 2013 was a very difficult vintage for Peter Sisseck. Extra care and detailed selection was required to obtain maximum quality. Aged in used oak. I tasted the wine two weeks after it was bottled. It is extremely youthful but already showing remarkable delicacy, easily discernible violets and wild dark fruit notes. Very compact wine, delicately textured, distinct and clean black fruit expression. It will grow undoubtedly well. One of the most elegant Pingus wines that I can recall. (FC)