2021 Pintia 0.375 ltr

One of Toro's very best wines. First released in 2001 by Pintia, part of the Vega Sicilia estate. From its very first vintage, this wine scored highly with almost all renowned wine critics, including Robert Parker. Pintia is only available in limited quantities because it is made exclusively from grapes from old vines. It is aged for 18 months in French (75%) and American (25%) oak. The wine is slightly more powerful but also very aromatic, expressive, and open, quite typical of a Toro. The Tempranillo reveals its more modern side here, with a sophisticated, rough exterior that only reveals its true grandeur, character, and finesse after decanting. Beautifully balanced, long-lived, and grand! The Pintia has a deep red, full-bodied, and complex wine. Ripe black fruit, minerals, roasted notes, herbs, and a long, impressive finish. The Pintia bouquet is very Bordeaux-like, with black rather than red fruit, fine minerality, and accents of graphite and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with plump, rounded tannins, a firm structure, and great precision on the finish. This is what you might call a "classic" Pintia, but then again, this wine is only released when it's top-notch. This is a 0.375-liter version. Perfect for 3 beautiful glasses.

94/100 Parker
95/100 James Suckling

The soils of the Pintia plots were formed on alluvial deposits from the Quaternary period (the most recent geological period: 2.588 million years ago to the present). Most of the soil is part of the high terraces around the Duero River, with accumulations of sand and pebbles on the upper layer, allowing the movement of water and clay particles mixed with small quartz particles to the lower layer. This creates a good water reserve, which in turn ensures good nutrition and water management for the vines. In some areas, the upper layer is very pebbly, which helps regulate temperature and contributes to optimal phenolic ripeness of the grapes. The climate is continental with a weak oceanic influence and large temperature fluctuations: very hot and dry summers versus cold winters, and a rainfall of 350 to 400 mm with an overall average temperature of only 12.5°C. These are the perfect conditions for healthy grapes that ripen well.

Vinification
The same strict selection criteria are followed as in Vega Sicilia. Given the Toro typicity, only grapes with a potential alcohol content of 14.5% are selected here (in Ribera, this is 13%). The harvest is done manually. The second selection takes place in the winery.
The grapes are placed in a cold room at a temperature of 5°C for 12 hours. Cold maceration then takes place in wooden vats for 4 to 6 days. Fermentation then begins with repeated reassemblies. The entire production undergoes malolactic fermentation in barriques. Depending on the vintage, the subsequent aging lasts between 12 and 15 months. The oak barrels are 70% French and 30% American. There is no second wine at this bodega, so if, after the Crianza, a wine is found not to meet the criteria, it is discarded and not used in the Pintia blend.

Fun fact: Pintia is an archaeological site. Pintia is the youngest descendant of the Vega Sicilia dynasty.

FACT: In the "Attachments" tab, you'll find the official fact sheet for this fine wine. We'll automatically send it to you when you order it. The wine is stored in our climate-controlled Wine Warehouse, and if you pick it up, you'll often receive a nice discount. You'll see your discount immediately when you select "Pickup" at checkout. We're located in Dordrecht with ample parking. Click here for our address.