Dominio de Pingus - Ribera del Duero PSI 2021

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The freshly bottled PSI 2021 is a little reticent and closed, the most backward of the 2021s - it's even a little reductive. In 2021, Peter Sisseck decided to start buying some vineyards; until then, he'd only used grapes from old vineyards, but most of the winemakers who run these are also old, and some of them can no longer work. The solution, therefore, is to buy their vineyards, which also poses an administrative problem, as the ownership and legal aspects of these vines are not always clear. They now own 50 hectares, with the idea of owning 100 hectares of the 200 they use for wine. This also represents a change, as they need more people to work in the vineyards, drive the tractors and so on. It's a lot of work," he tells me, "but it's a lot of fun. The wine takes a while to open up; the nose is hard to perceive, but the palate is much better. It's medium- to full-bodied and the tannins are much more elegant and polished, more sophisticated and precise than in the first vintages, and it's gained in seriousness. Some 349,000 bottles and a few large formats were produced. It was bottled in July 2023. 2025-2032

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

PSI 2021 is composed of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha from old vines planted on limestone soils, and has been aged for up to 16 months in mostly large French oak barrels. In the glass, it is garnet-red with a slight purple hue. The nose offers notes of blood, sour cherry and blackberry, intermixed with violet and dried flowers, resulting in a complex, layered profile. The palate is dry and velvety. Chalky tannins define a compact palate and persistent fruity and floral flavors. The 2021 is a distinctive Ribera del Duero with excellent nuance and agility. 2025-2040

James Suckling

About the wine:

Black cherries, asphalt, hedges, dark spices and dried Mediterranean herbs. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with dusty, effusive tannins and a vertical finish. Pure and unadorned. To drink or to keep.

Falstaff

About the wine:

Dense, complex nose with notes of light and dark fruits, elderberries, redcurrants, cherries, as well as salty components that add freshness and an engaging spiciness. Extremely elegant on the palate, with still-vibrant fruit aromas, juicy acidity and fine tannins. Long, elegant finish.