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Producer name: Dominio de Pingus

Wines:

2024 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2050

Tasting notes: The 2024 PSI is Tinta del País with 10% Garnacha from old vineyards in Soria, Ribera del Duero, where mixed plantings remain part of the historic fabric. Within Ribera’s broader landscape, PSI stands apart for embracing that tradition. Much like in Rioja, Garnacha works its quiet magic here, lending freshness and a red-fruited lift to the blend. Recently bottled, it shows ripe red fruit, subtle balsamic notes and a persistent fruit core. The palate is beautifully balanced, combining an enveloping texture with delicate chalky tension. Plush tannins provide support without constriction, while the finish gains definition through its fresh fruit character. Even at this early stage, it already projects that rare combination of sensuality and seriousness.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2043

Tasting notes: The 2023 PSI is Tempranillo with 8% Garnacha from Ribera del Duero. More expressive and fruit-driven than many wines in the range, it delivers plum, menthol, lavender and violet aromas with notable clarity. Chalky tannins provide structure on the palate, layered over a plush texture. Compared with the 2021, this vintage feels tighter and more focused, yet equally expressive.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2024 Amelia
Color: Red

Score: 98.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2055

Tasting notes: The 2024 Amelia is 100% Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. Black fruit, plum and blackberry mingle with subtle aging notes, violet and a faint whole-cluster nuance. The palate is broad and enveloping, with plush tannins complemented by moderate chalky grip. The finish carries the fruit forward, accompanied by a discreet reminder of the élevage. This is extremely promising.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Amelia
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2048

Tasting notes: A singular wine within the Pingus universe, Amelia comes from a single barrel selected for both its distinctive qualities and its idiosyncrasies. Tasted during élevage, the 2024 Amelia is pure Tinta del País from La Horra. It is restrained at first, gradually unfolding with black fruit, hints of red berries, delicate herbs, violet and lavender. It is especially compelling on the palate, where a calm, seamless flow and finely judged proportions convey remarkable poise. Gentle traces of élevage precede a finely chalky texture, while the balance remains exceptional throughout. 

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2024 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 99.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2055

Tasting notes: Tasted from barrel during its élevage, the 2024 Pingus is Tinta del País from La Horra. Shy yet remarkably complex, it reveals black fruit, a subtle red-fruited lift, delicate herbs and an intense floral profile marked by violet and lavender. The palate is where the wine truly shines: harmonious, relaxed and beautifully proportioned. Still aging and not yet bottled, it already shows subtle wood notes, followed by a fine chalky texture and outstanding balance. A beautifully judged Pingus, the 2024 that already hints at the precision and elegance it may fully reveal once bottled next year.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 99.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2053

Tasting notes: In Ribera del Duero, precision is among the highest virtues, and Pingus remains one of the clearest examples of how precision and elegance can coexist without sacrificing depth. The 2023 Pingus comes from La Horra and was aged for at least one year in used barrels. Subtle reduction, plum, blackberry and a discreet floral nuance shape the nose. With air, fine oak notes emerge, moving between cedar and polished wood. The palate combines plush texture with fine chalky tannins that tighten the wine without compromising its depth. Juicy and layered, it balances richness with remarkable control, reinforcing its sense of shape and proportion. According to Peter Sisseck, Pingus begins to reveal itself after 15 years, and this vintage certainly seems built for the long term. Compared with recent releases, it feels more tightly coiled in its youth.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2024 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2045

Tasting notes: The 2024 Flor de Pingus is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Garnacha from Ribera del Duero. The frost-affected growing season shaped the vinification, with balance becoming the central objective. Less demonstrative than the 2023, it leans toward darker fruit, accompanied by floral and herbal nuances. The tannins are remarkably polished and delicate, while the vintage contributes a looser, more fluid feel. Early harvesting helped preserve freshness and definition. Restrained today, it possesses a quiet intensity that should reveal itself more fully with time.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2048

Tasting notes: The 2023 Flor de Pingus is Tempranillo with 5% Garnacha from La Horra, Ribera del Duero, aged in barrel with roughly 20% new oak. Particularly attractive on the nose, it combines pristine fruit with notes of fresh plum, delicate herbs and a touch of violet. There is even a subtle hint of white fruit that adds lift. The palate is driven by freshness and energy, with fine-grained tannins and gentle grip. Its greatest strength lies in its vitality and clarity of flavor, making it one of the most immediately engaging recent vintages.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2022 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2038

Tasting notes: The 2022 PSI hails from the Sorian side of Ribera del Duero. Ripe plum, cherry and herbal aromas mingle with a balsamic touch, soft cedar and a hint of prune. The palate is juicy and creamy in texture, defined by firm, fine-grained tannins and moderate structure. Concentration comes from the old vines, while lively acidity balances the fine tannins. A solid example of Ribera Soriana.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2022 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 99.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2050

Tasting notes: The 2022 Pingus confirms the potential of this exceptional vineyard in Ribera del Duero. From a slightly structured vintage, the old vines compensate with elegance. Aromas of precise plum, a touch of cedar, black cherry and delicate underbrush unfold, followed by blood orange peel. The palate delivers pure cherry with chalky tannins and a vibrant core that activates with finesse. Deep and expressive, the fruit-driven length and subtle grip speak to its fine balance. Pingus remains a benchmark for the elegant Ribera.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2022 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 2027 - 2040

Tasting notes: The 2022 Flor de Pingus is made with grapes from the Burgos area of Ribera del Duero and was fermented in used barrels after an early harvest in a warm year. Floral and fruit aromas—lavender and violet, which are rare in warm vintages—open the nose, followed by a delicate touch of oak. A hint of mint and cassis underscores the nose’s elegance. Juicy, with fine tannins and a light grip, the palate offers more structure than the 2021 while maintaining notable precision. Tasted six months after bottling, the 2022 shows depth and flavor and promises long aging potential.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2040

Tasting notes: The 2023 PSI brings together fruit from 12 villages, mostly Gumiel de Mercado and Villatuelda in the Soria sector of Ribera del Duero. The project began in 2007 with the recovery of neglected vineyards, now totaling 200 hectares across about 700 parcels, 25% of which are estate-owned. Garnet colored, it opens with pine and herbal notes, then red fruit—cherry and a touch of plum. The palate shows fine-grained tannins, a midweight texture and detailed fruit. The bottle will reveal the Soria character in the interplay of fine tannins and acidity.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 97.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2045

Tasting notes: The 2023 Pingus, from old vineyards in the Burgos area of Ribera del Duero on limestone and gravel soils, was aged entirely in used oak. Aromas include black fruit, underbrush, blood orange, cherry and sour cherry. Juicy and vibrant, the palate has a calcareous, chalky texture and impressive length. Chalk shapes an expressive finish. This wine will refine beautifully in bottle.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 94.5

Drinking window: 2025 - 2040

Tasting notes: The 2023 Flor de Pingus is made from over 20 hectares of old Tinta del País vines and 15 hectares of Garnacha in Ribera del Duero. It was aged in 10–15% new oak. Violets, fresh plum and a delicate touch of oak open on the nose. Fine-grained reactive tannins define the texture. A red with charming nuances and evolving character.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2023 Amelia
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2040

Tasting notes: The 2023 Amelia comes from a historic vineyard in Ribera del Duero and is bottled from a single 500-liter barrel that fermented with 50% whole clusters. Floral-driven, it opens with notes of cherry, violet and a hint of lavender. The nose is bright. Dry and juicy, with an ultra-fine grain texture, the palate shows verticality and freshness. Tannins appear gently on the gums. This wine promises precision and complexity once bottled.

Producer Commentary:
Pingus can be difficult to taste, given its price and rarity, but it is the very definition modernity and elegance in the Duero. Peter Sisseck’s philosophy is built around respect for balance in old vines and picking just as the grapes become crunchy. In the winery, Sisseck has refined his use of aging vessels and formats in pursuit of vibrant fruit, floral aromatics and supple, delicate tannins. Sisseck explained, “Precision is the most difficult word in Ribera. Tempranillo is a hard variety to manage if elegance is what you’re looking for.” A steadfast dry-farmer, Sisseck manages the Burgalesa clay soils with painstaking care, ultimately yielding a truly singular wine.
2021 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2040

Tasting notes: The 2021 PSI is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha sourced from old vines planted in calcareous soils and was aged for up to 16 months in mostly sizeable French oak barrels. In the glass, it's garnet-red with a light purple sheen. The nose offers blood notes along with sour cherry and blackberry, intertwined with violets and dried flowers, resulting in a layered, complex profile. On the palate, it's dry and velvety. Chalky tannins define a compact mouthfeel and long-lasting fruit and floral flavors. The 2021 is a distinctive Ribera del Duero with excellent nuance and agility.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck, a legend in Ribera del Duero, has established and maintained a reputation for precision and excellence since he first came to this corner of Spain in 1992. Trained in Bordeaux, Sisseck elevated Ribera to World Class status with the first vintages of Pingus in 1995 and 1996. In 2003, Sisseck introduced the house's second label, Flor de Pingus. By 2005, a warm vintage, he had recalibrated his Tempranillo, adopting a gentler approach and larger, used barrels for aging. "We changed everything so we could keep doing the same thing," he says as we tour the barrel room. For Pingus, Sisseck harvests old vineyards in La Horra and nearby plots, crafting an austere version of a Ribera red enhanced by the limestone soils to produce a reserved but nuanced character. For the Flor de Pingus, he uses old vines from Soria, creating a richer profile with polished tannins but just as much complexity. Sisseck's meticulous approach is a beacon of Ribera del Duero excellence.
2021 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 98.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2045

Tasting notes: The 2021 Pingus is a 100% Tempranillo sourced from selected four-hectare parcels with clay/lime soils in a vineyard planted in 1929 in La Horra, Ribera del Duero and was aged for 20 months in French oak barrels. Garnet-red in the glass with a purple sheen. The nuanced nose presents subtle but enticing notes of sour cherry and violets. However, its real character comes out in the mouth: a combination of velvety and chalky textures, effervescent energy and a nimble flow before a long-lasting, flavorful finish. This complex Ribera del Duero red lives up to its reputation with its unique palate and lean but velvety balance. What a delightful, distinctive interpretation of the region.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck, a legend in Ribera del Duero, has established and maintained a reputation for precision and excellence since he first came to this corner of Spain in 1992. Trained in Bordeaux, Sisseck elevated Ribera to World Class status with the first vintages of Pingus in 1995 and 1996. In 2003, Sisseck introduced the house's second label, Flor de Pingus. By 2005, a warm vintage, he had recalibrated his Tempranillo, adopting a gentler approach and larger, used barrels for aging. "We changed everything so we could keep doing the same thing," he says as we tour the barrel room. For Pingus, Sisseck harvests old vineyards in La Horra and nearby plots, crafting an austere version of a Ribera red enhanced by the limestone soils to produce a reserved but nuanced character. For the Flor de Pingus, he uses old vines from Soria, creating a richer profile with polished tannins but just as much complexity. Sisseck's meticulous approach is a beacon of Ribera del Duero excellence.
2021 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2040

Tasting notes: The 2021 Flor de Pingus hails from several vineyards in La Horra, Ribera del Duero and spent 18 months in French oak barrels. Purple in hue. The complex, subtle aromas include sour cherry and blueberry intertwined with rose, herbs and garrigue hints. On the palate, it's dry and velvety, with a balanced, fairly intense, chalky character that's low on freshness but high on energy. This is a distinctive, delicious red that reflects a modern approach to Ribera.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck, a legend in Ribera del Duero, has established and maintained a reputation for precision and excellence since he first came to this corner of Spain in 1992. Trained in Bordeaux, Sisseck elevated Ribera to World Class status with the first vintages of Pingus in 1995 and 1996. In 2003, Sisseck introduced the house's second label, Flor de Pingus. By 2005, a warm vintage, he had recalibrated his Tempranillo, adopting a gentler approach and larger, used barrels for aging. "We changed everything so we could keep doing the same thing," he says as we tour the barrel room. For Pingus, Sisseck harvests old vineyards in La Horra and nearby plots, crafting an austere version of a Ribera red enhanced by the limestone soils to produce a reserved but nuanced character. For the Flor de Pingus, he uses old vines from Soria, creating a richer profile with polished tannins but just as much complexity. Sisseck's meticulous approach is a beacon of Ribera del Duero excellence.
2017 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 97.0

Drinking window: 2026 - 2037

Tasting notes: Dark, bright-rimmed purple. Powerful red and dark berry preserve and cherry cola scents are complemented by exotic spice, incense and floral oil notes. Sappy and densely packed, offering palate-staining black raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet pastille and spicecake flavors braced by a core of juicy acidity. Youthfully chewy tannins build steadily on a strikingly long, penetrating finish that leaves behind smoky mineral and juicy dark berry notes.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2016 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 98.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2038

Tasting notes: Glass-staining ruby. Powerful, highly scented aromas of spice-tinged red and blue fruit preserves, pipe tobacco, incense and mocha; a smoky mineral overtone builds as the wine opens up. Alluringly sweet, mineral-laced black raspberry, cherry-vanilla and floral pastille flavors show impressive depth and energy and complementary suggestions of spicecake, candied violet and bitter chocolate. Combines power and delicacy with a steady hand and finishes supple, sweet and extremely long, with gently gripping tannins making a late appearance.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2015 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 98.0

Drinking window: 2025 - 2038

Tasting notes: Inky ruby. A hugely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, potpourri, exotic spices and incense, all sharpened by a vibrant mineral topnote. Stains the palate with concentrated, sharply focused blackberry, bitter cherry, violet pastille and fruitcake flavors that deftly blend power and delicacy. Shows superb clarity and resonating florality on a strikingly long, penetrating finish framed by polished, well-knit tannins.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2013 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 2021 - 2028

Tasting notes: Inky purple. Sexy, high-pitched red berry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by suggestions of Asian spices and minerals. Shows a highly appealing light touch, with sharply focused raspberry and cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with aeration. Supple tannins add grip to this distinctly suave and seamless blend, which leaves notes of raspberry preserves and candied rose behind.

Producer Commentary:
2014 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 91.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Deep ruby. Smoky, highly perfumed dark berry and violet scents are complemented by hints of vanilla and pipe tobacco. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering blackberry preserve and blueberry flavors that are given lift and spine by juicy acidity. In a silky, fruit-driven style, finishing with strong punch and spicy persistence. Supple tannins lend shape. 

Producer Commentary:
2015 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 92.0

Drinking window: 2021 - 2027

Tasting notes: Youthful purple. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe fruits, incense, licorice and candied flowers, and a smoky nuance builds in the glass. Sweet, palate-coating blackberry, cherry liqueur and mocha flavors show very good depth and breadth. Rich and vaguely decadent in style, finishing on a plush dark berry note, with strong tenacity and youthful tannins that come in late to add closing grip.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2016 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 2022 - 2030

Tasting notes: Deep, brilliant violet. Expressive, mineral- and spice-tinged cherry and blackberry aromas, along with suggestions of succulent flowers, pipe tobacco and cola. Sweet, seamless and energetic in the mouth, offering intense red and dark fruit preserve, mocha and floral pastille flavors that deepen slowly through the midpalate. In a rich yet lively style, showing impressive clarity on a long, penetrating finish shaped by fine-grained, even tannins. 

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2018 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 2023 - 2031

Tasting notes: Inky ruby. Highly perfumed cherry and dark berry scents are complemented by a suave floral nuance, and a spicy element adds lift. Silky, sharply focused and seamless on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that deepen steadily as the wine opens up. Lush yet energetic in style, with solid closing thrust and supple tannins building slowly and adding gentle grip to the floral-driven finish. 

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2017 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 92.0

Drinking window: 2022 - 2029

Tasting notes: Opaque ruby. Smoke- and spice-tinged dark berries and cherry liqueur on the intensely perfumed nose, which is energized by a suggestion of cracked pepper. Pliant bitter cherry, blackberry and violet pastille flavors show very good depth and emerging floral character. Opens up steadily on the persistent finish, which features subtly chewy tannins and lingering florality.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2000 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright ruby to the rim. Initially cool aromas of blackberry, coffee, mocha and lead pencil; showed a chocolatey aspect with 24 hours in the recorked bottle. Very rich, dense and deep, with a suave, utterly creamy texture. The wine's great sucrosity is buffered by tangy acidity. Finishes with noble, sweet tannins and great persistence. The crop levels in the vineyards that go into Pingus were cut by spring hail (and Peter Sisseck's decision to prune all of the affected bunches), resulting in the lowest yield for this wine since its inception in 1995. 

Producer Commentary:
2007 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Glass-staining ruby. Pungent, mineral-driven aromas of black raspberry, bitter cherry, smoky minerals and potpourri, plus a sexy smoky note of cola. Sweet and powerful, with brilliant definition and intensity to the ripe dark berry and cherry flavors. Lush and creamy but energetic, with silky tannins giving shape to the expansive fruit. Highly concentrated but very young wine with a strong, sappy, penetrating finish that echoes the floral note. This is a weighty wine but there's no excess fat or thickness. Stash it away for at least another six years. 

Producer Commentary:
2010 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Opaque ruby. Sappy, seductive aromas of blackberry, blueberry, minerals, potpourri and sweet oak. Rich but vibrant, with incisive, highly complex flavors of black and blue fruits, candied violet, graphite and licorice, and a powerful mineral accent. The endless finish repeats the blue fruit note and clings with outstanding tenacity and focus.

Producer Commentary:
2001 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Deep, bright ruby-red. Cherry, licorice and smoked meat at the outset; then exploded with raspberry fruit. Lush, smooth and silky, with lovely inner-mouth perfume. Highly complex flavors of raspberry, minerals, bitter chocolate and smoky oak convey an extraordinary sweetness without any excess weight. Expands wonderfully on the extremely long, aromatic finish, which features noble, palate-dusting tannins. From the recorked bottle, the wine again began with dominant smoky, tarry torrefaction notes, and within minutes was taken over by red berries and flowers. More classic than the '03, but the 2003 may be even richer. 

Producer Commentary:
2003 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Saturated purple-ruby. Superripe aromas of black raspberry, gunflint, chocolate, minerals, flowers and sexy nutty oak. Wonderfully lush, creamy and sweet, with extraordinary concentration of dark fruit, mineral and floral flavors. A wine with no corners, and hard to scrape off your palate. Broad on entry, then expands to a new dimension on the back half. Finishes with outstanding persistence and noble tannins that coat the incisors. The wine's oak component strikes this taster as particularly suave and harmonious. . 

Producer Commentary:
2009 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 96.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Dark purple. Drop-dead gorgeous aromas of spicy dark berries complicated by vanilla, mocha, espresso, iron, licorice and sexy oak spices. Sweet and expansive, showing great depth to its ripe blackberry and boysenberry flavors. Notes of candied flowers, cola and mocha gain strength with air and carry through an extremely long, sweet finish. There's plenty of structure here but it's hidden under all the dense fruit right now. That price is correct, sadly.

Producer Commentary:
1998 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Component #1 (three barrels), from the Santa Cruz plot, which features the youngest vines (50 years old!) used to make Pingus and produced the highest yield in '98 (20 hectoliters per hectare): Deep bright ruby. Sexy, sappy aromas of raspberry complicated by sandalwood and nutmeg from the Darnajou barrels. Leanish and penetrating, with modest fat and sound acidity. Finishes firmly tannic. "These vines give good fruit character but lack the true Pingus roasted smokiness," says Sisseck. Component #2 (eight barrels), from the Baroso vineyard ("the most complete of the crus," says Sisseck): Bright ruby color. Rather Graves-like aromas of black fruits, smoked meat, minerals and licorice. Thick, seamless, very intensely flavored and remarkably persistent. The big, chewy tannins are buffered by the wine sheer material. An extraordinary sample. 14.5% alcohol. Component #3 (five barrels), from San Cristobal, the oldest vines, yielding just 11 hectoliters per hectare in '98: Bright dark ruby. Reticent but highly complex Pomerol-like aromas of crystallized black raspberry, roasted game, earth and an intriguing vegetal complexity. Very thick, sweet and oaky; almost aggressive today. Chewy but thoroughly ripe tannins and superb persistence. 15% alcohol. Like a solid in the mouth, verging on heavy. Approximation of the final blend: Saturated deep, bright ruby. Complex aromas of black raspberry, roasted meat, graphite, smoky oak, and chocolate. Extremely rich and superripe; thick, generous and pliant. Huge and fat, with underlying structure covered by flesh. Layered and sophisticated, with very pure flavors. Very long smoky-oaky finish.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck came to Ribera del Duero by way of Bordeaux in 1990 (his uncle Peter Vinding Diers made a career as a winemaker in the Bordeaux region) to make wine for Hacienda Monasterio. But the early years there were difficult (please refer to page 17), and even after the excellent 1994 vintage Sisseck had little to show for his time and effort there. Then his buddy Jean-Luc Thunevin of Chateau Valandraud gave him a piece of advice: make a name for yourself in the region real soon, or quit. The result was Pingus, a wine made from four parcels of low-yielding old vines that has quickly become one of a handful of internationally sought collectibles from Spain, due to its high quality and scarcity. Sisseck objective from the outset was to make "an unmistakably Spanish, terroir-driven wine . . . a garage wine."x000D x000D x000D x000D I tasted the various components of the highly promising '98 from barrel in Sisseck's tiny cellar in the village of Quintanilla de Onesimo, as well as the previous three vintages of this wine. A couple months earlier, Sisseck had shown me the same four vintages in New York. Pingus is 100% tempranillo. Sisseck retained 30% of the stems for the '95, but has destemmed completely since then. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel (except for the '97, which was done in an upright wood fermenter), after which the wine is racked into Darnajou barrels, the same barrels used to make such Bordeaux superstars as L'Eglise-Clinet and Petrus. Racking is kept to a minimum: generally in March, again before the next harvest, and a third time a month before the bottling, which takes place the second June or July.x000D x000D x000D x000D x000D Pingus is a hugely rich, sexy wine with relatively low acidity, substantial alcohol and very high levels of ripe tannins. While tannin readings were elevated in '96, says Sisseck, they were nearly off the charts in 1995-in fact, measurably identical to the tannin levels of the 1975 La Mission Haut Brion, according to Sisseck. "I've largely substituted tannins for acids for the aging of the wine," explains Sisseck. "And I've filled up [buffered] the tannins with high pH and alcohol." While it is too soon to know how these wines will age, the '95 and '96 are developing at a snail's pace. Incidentally, Sisseck has 26 barrels of '98, but will probably ultimately leave 7 or 8 of them out of the grand vin
2003 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 96.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright deep ruby. Black raspberry and musky, roasted Darnajou oak on the nose. Remarkably deep in the mouth, with an extraordinary creamy sweetness. Sappy black raspberry fruit offers a powerful impression of solidity. The huge but noble tannins dust the front teeth. Extraordinarily long and sweet on the back end; if any wine can be described as liquid sex, this might be the one. The first time I tried this young wine was with Jean-Luc Thunevin in St. Emilion at the end of March: it was the best 2003 I tasted on the Right Bank of Bordeaux on my spring tour. But then Pingus has a sweetness that Bordeaux can never match.

Producer Commentary:
1999 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Saturated bright ruby. Pungently spicy aromas of crystallized raspberry, minerals, roasted meat and smoky oak. Then great palate-staining depth and sweetness leavened by firm spine and great verve; the explosive dark berry, violet and mineral flavors are complicated by cedar and herbal nuances. Finishes with big but elegant tannins and great persistence. May approach the extraordinary '96 and '95 in quality.

Producer Commentary:
2012 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Vivid ruby. Heady aromas of fresh blackberry, boysenberry and smoky minerals are complicated by pungent hints of vanilla, violet and allspice. Lush, intensely flavored and focused, offering deep dark berry and cherry compote flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Finishes smooth, sweet and very long, with resonating spiciness, a hint of licorice and fully absorbed tannins.

Producer Commentary:
2008 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 92.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Vibrant purple. Energetic, nuanced aromas of raspberry, cherry, Asian spices, cocoa powder and rose, plus a hint of blood orange. Compellingly silky and sweet on entry, then vibrant and delineated in the mid-palate, with a floral quality accenting the flavors of crushed red berries and blood orange. The wine's pungent minerality gives a weightless impression to the long, spicy finish.

Producer Commentary:
2007 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 92.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: (100% tempranillo, aged in 100% new barriques Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed bouquet of red and dark berry preserves, smoked meat, minerals and fresh violet, with a suave Asian spice note gaining power in the glass. Fresh, lively and focused, offering sweet black raspberry and mocha flavors, with supple tannins adding shape. Extremely alluring wine with strong finishing sweetness and lingering spice and mocha qualities. This gained weight with air and holds serious promise for another six or so years of cellaring.

Producer Commentary:
2003 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 91.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Saturated medium ruby. Superripe aromas of black raspberry, currant, tar, minerals, licorice and sexy oak. Extravagantly sweet and ripe, with layered flavors of roasted black raspberry, minerals, chocolate and black olive. Finishes lush and broad, with a boatload of sweet, smooth, building tannins. In the past two vintages, Peter Sisseck has taken the second wine of Pingus to a new level.

Producer Commentary:
2002 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 92.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright medium ruby. Black raspberry, tar, violet and roasted oak on the nose. Thick, velvety and wonderfully sweet, with compelling inner-mouth perfume and sap. Large-scaled, broad wine with superb palate coverage. Finishes with big, chocolatey tannins and excellent length. Peter Sisseck will not offer his grand vin Pingus in 2002; that juice forms the backbone of Flor de Pingus, making this a wine to buy.

Producer Commentary:
2017 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 2024 - 2034

Tasting notes: Inky, bright-rimmed ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry preserves, vanilla, pipe tobacco and candied flowers, with a spicy flourish adding lift. Stains the palate with concentrated black and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that become more lively as the wine opens up. The floral and cherry notes carry through the strikingly long, sweet, youthfully tannic finish, which features a hint of candied licorice.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2016 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 2024 - 2034

Tasting notes: Deep violet. Smoke- and spice-accented dark berries and cherry on the highly perfumed nose. Lively bitter cherry, blueberry and violet pastille flavors stain the palate, showing fine definition and a supporting spine of tangy acidity. Opens up and deepens on the strikingly long, incisive finish, which features gently chewy tannins and lingering florality.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2015 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 2023 - 2033

Tasting notes: Opaque ruby. Ripe, mineral-accented dark berries, cherry cola, mocha, potpourri and an exotic incense nuance on the deeply perfumed nose. Smooth and broad on the palate, offering impressively concentrated blackberry liqueur and cherry pie flavors along with subtle hints of vanilla, candied licorice and spicecake. A smoky nuance comes up with air and lingers on the impressively long, youthfully tannic finish, which echoes the floral and mineral notes.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck’s influence on Ribera del Duero’s worldwide reputation cannot be overstated. His Pingus is now considered to be one of Spain’s and the world’s greatest red wines, with a price to match. It’s always a pleasure, not to mention a rare occurrence, to be able to drink Pingus, but the good news is that his two other bottlings, Flor de Pingus and PSI, which he makes from purchased grapes, are more readily available and, in the context of the region’s best wines, real values. Flor de Pingus has been steadily increasing in reputation and demand, and while it isn’t cheap, compared to wines of similar quality from the great winegrowing regions of the world, it delivers solid value. As for the PSI, it’s simply an outstanding example of Ribera del Duero for a very fair price. Plus, readers will be able find it fairly easily. Sisseck has been dialing the oak treatment way back for all of his wines over the last decade, and current releases show more finesse and precision than those of 25 years ago, when he set up this bodega.
2013 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 92.0

Drinking window: 2021 - 2027

Tasting notes: Brilliant violet color. A heady bouquet displays scents of fresh raspberry, incense and rose pastille, with a spicy nuance adding lift. Stains the palate with red fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors, with tangy acidity providing lift and focus. Youthfully firm tannins build through the clinging finish, which repeats the red fruit and floral qualities. 

Producer Commentary:
2006 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Saturated ruby. A seductive bouquet offers black raspberry, potpourri, graphite and anise. Sweet red and dark berry flavors are deeply concentrated and fresh, with excellent mineral lift and building spiciness. Suave floral pastille and berry liqueur notes linger on the long, spicy finish. I was looking for tannins but the fruit seems to have absorbed them. There is one lonely barrel of this wine.

Producer Commentary:
2007 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: (there's just a single barrel of this juice) Bright violet. Explosively perfumed nose shows an exotic array of red and dark berry scents, with notes of bayberry, sandalwood and smoke adding complexity. Burgundy-like in weight and texture, with sweet raspberry and cherry flavors underscored by smoky spices and minerals. Whatever tannins are here have been sucked up by the sweet fruit, for now. Finishes with impressive energy and lingering spice and red berry notes.

Producer Commentary:
2008 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Dark purple. Highly perfumed, complex nose offers red and black fruits, rose pastille, minerals and spicecake. Very intensely flavored and detailed, with sweet, penetrating raspberry and bitter cherry flavors complicated by suave notes of mocha and candied flowers. Finishes very sweet and long, with lingering notes of red fruit, smoke and flowers. These wines finished at 14% alcohol, "which is low for us," according to assistant winemaker Patricia Benitez, with whom I tasted this year. 

Producer Commentary:
2008 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright violet. A wild, highly aromatic bouquet of black raspberry, cherry-cola, incense and rose oil, with a sexy note of Moroccan spices. Lush and creamy in texture, offering expansive dark berry flavors and enticing floral and spicecake qualities. The finish is sweet, focused and very long. Very young but this wine's clarity and vibrancy make it delicious now.

Producer Commentary:
2011 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Brilliant ruby. Seductive, oak-spiced aromas of black raspberry, candied violet, anise and minerals. Intense cherry and dark berry preserve flavors are brightened by smoky minerals, picking up a sexy floral pastille quality with aeration. The finish repeats the floral note and leaves a suave Asian spice quality behind. Impressively elegant wine that smoothly weds power and finesse.

Producer Commentary:
2012 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright purple. Intensely perfumed scents of black and blue fruits, vanilla, potpourri and incense, plus an intense mineral overtone. Juicy, focused and lithe, offering concentrated boysenberry and cherry-cola flavors enlivened by zesty acidity. The energetic, strikingly persistent finish features supple tannins, subtle oak spices and a powerful floral pastille flourish.

Producer Commentary:
2010 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Dark purple. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, licorice and potpourri, with smoke and mineral overtones. Lush and expansive, with hefty boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors underscored by racy acidity and a touch of floral pastille. The licorice note comes back strong on an uncommonly long finish highlighted by a sexy floral quality.

Producer Commentary:
2005 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: (a single barrel, from vines over 100 years of age, reportedly) Dark ruby. Rich cherry and blueberry compote flavors are impressively bright, with smoky cocoa, tobacco and roasted coffee adding complexity. Lush, creamy dark berry flavors offer terrific depth, with subtle minerality contributing to an impression of clarity. Becomes fresher on the long, spicy finish, which delivers outstanding sweetness, depth and precision. Good luck finding any.

Producer Commentary:
2009 Amelia Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Vivid ruby. Expressive aromas of blackberry preserves, bitter chocolate and coffee, with mounting spiciness. Then ripe and juicy in the mouth, with explosive primary flavors of blackberry, blueberry and dark chocolate. Boasts impressive richness but also shows real finesse. Finishes sweet and spicy, with silky tannins and superb length. This is built to age but also drinks very well right now.

Producer Commentary:
2013 Psi
Color: Red

Score: 91.0

Drinking window: 2019 - 2024

Tasting notes: Vivid purple. High-pitched cherry, black raspberry and floral scents pick up floral and mineral character with air. Suave, densely packed red fruit preserve and violet pastille flavors are braced by juicy acidity and show an appealingly light touch. Distinctly lively given its heft and showing zero rough edges. Fine-grained tannins come in late and provides shape and definition to a long, focused, floral-dominated finish. 

Producer Commentary:
2010 Psi Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 92.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright purple. Pungent, expressive scents of cherry and dark berries, dried flowers and incense. Sappy cherry and cassis flavors are braced by tangy acidity and gain sweetness with air. Richer on the finish, with its resounding notes of cherry compote and Asian spices. This vibrant wine drinks very easily right now.

Producer Commentary:
2011 Psi Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 91.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Glass-staining ruby. Dark berry, bitter chocolate and potpourri on the perfumed nose. Spicy, penetrating black and blue fruit flavors show impressive clarity and lift, with a zesty mineral nuance adding bite. Smooth and seamless on the subtly tannic finish, which leaves juicy blueberry and violet pastille notes behind.

Producer Commentary:
2012 Psi Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 91.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Brilliant ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of fresh red fruits, pipe tobacco, cedar and potpourri, with a suave vanilla quality in the background. Fleshy and seamless on the palate, with sweet cherry and mocha flavors and a touch of anise. Shows very good breadth and sweetness on the gently tannic finish, which leaves smoke and spicecake notes behind.

Producer Commentary:
2011 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Inky ruby. Potent, mineral- and smoke-accented dark berry and violet scents show excellent clarity and lift. Silky and seamless in texture, offering sweet blackberry and boysenberry flavors and notes of spicecake and floral pastilles. Closes with strong thrust, appealing sweetness and sneaky, slow-mounting tannins. Very suave, even now, but this wine will be much better in another five to seven years.

Producer Commentary:
2006 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Ruby-red. Strong floral and mineral scents complicate blackberry and cherry on the nose. Vibrant red berry and cherry flavors are given support by dusty tannins and become sweeter with air. Very fresh and precise, with excellent mineral snap and thrust. I like this wine's delicate touch, and the finish is clean and very long. Given the tariff for its big brother, this is almost a bargain.

Producer Commentary:
2009 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright violet color. Smoky, mineral-laced boysenberry and blueberry on the nose, with suave oak spice and violet qualities coming up with air. Rich, fleshy and sweet, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors and a sexy array of floral and spice accents For a rich wine this shows impressive finesse. The long, spice-accented finish features harmonious tannins and leaves sweet vanilla and cola notes behind.

Producer Commentary:
1999 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 91.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Medium ruby. Black raspberry, plum, violet, lead pencil, mocha and sweet oak aromas. Dense, lush and smooth, with restrained sweetness and solid structure. Just a hint of pepper to suggest that the material that did not make it into big brother Pingus was somewhat less ripe. But very suavely made; harmonious, concentrated and long on the aftertaste.

Producer Commentary:
2010 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: (made from purchased fruit in the La Horra sector of the region and from vines that average more than 35 years of age and yield between 20 and 25 hectoliters per hectare): Vivid purple. Ripe cherry, cassis, potpourri and cracked pepper on the intensely perfumed nose, with subtle licorice and woodsmoke qualities adding complexity. Deep, sweet and expansive, offering explosive dark berry compote, floral pastille and anise flavors. A spicy quality gains strength on the finish, which leaves smoke and mineral notes behind. This bottling has been going from strength to strength in recent years and offers superb value relative to its ritzy Pingus sibling.

Producer Commentary:
2005 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Deep red. Smoky cherry and cassis aromas are complicated by mocha, vanilla and cured tobacco. Coffee-accented red and dark berry flavors are enlivened by zesty minerality, which adds focus. Suave, sweet cherry-cola and anise flavors carry impressively through the vibrant, delineated finish. The 2004 has more power, this more finesse.

Producer Commentary:
2004 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 93.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Inky ruby. Exotic aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, roasted coffee, dark chocolate and cured tobacco. Lush, sweet and smoky, with a supple texture to the deep dark berry liqueur flavors. No edges here, just luscious dark fruits and a wild smoky quality that carries into the finish. Impressively powerful and rich on the back end, with a lingering blackberry quality that won't quit.

Producer Commentary:
2001 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 90.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Full medium ruby. Roasted black fruits and graphite on the nose. Sweet, dense and full; the superripe black fruits show a roasted aspect, but firm acids are keeping the wine tightly wound. Needs another year or so to show more complexity. Peter Sisseck's second wine is from purchased grapes but may also contain some declassified Pingus barrels (in the difficult 2002 vintage, Sisseck has decided to declassify all of his Pingus material into the Flor de Pingus).

Producer Commentary:
1999 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 90.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Good medium red. Expressive aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, toffee, iron, smoke and a vegetal nuance that adds to its complexity. Lush and seamless, with a layered texture and compelling sweetness; the iron note recurs in the mouth. Not hugely deep, but amazingly harmonious considering that it's a blend from disparate sources. Brisk acids and even, ripe tannins give the wine solid structure. This will offer an affordable alternative to the much more expensive and scarcer Pingus.

Producer Commentary:
2014 Flor De Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Bright violet color. Explosively perfumed aromas of fresh boysenberry, floral oils and incense, with suave vanilla and woodsmoke nuances building in the glass. Sweet and plush on the palate, offering intense, smooth dark fruit liqueur and spicecake flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with superb thrust and clarity; velvety tannins add gentle grip.

Producer Commentary:
2000 Flor De Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 90.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Good medium ruby. Explosive aromas of black cherry, roasted tomato, olive, game and nutty oak. Sweet, lush and gamey; a bit less densely packed than the young 2001 but still stuffed with fruit. Shows a syrah-like animal aspect.

Producer Commentary:
1996 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 96.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Deep, bright ruby. Extraordinarily complex, lively nose combines black raspberry, bitter chocolate, nutmeg and an intriguing suggestion of roasted herbs. Amazingly rich and smooth in the mouth; truly explosive fruit offers superb vinosity and snap. Like liquid velvet but with great clarity of flavor. Builds in intensity and seems to grow thicker on the back half. The huge finishing fruit coats the entire palate. Amazing juice.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck came to Ribera del Duero by way of Bordeaux in 1990 (his uncle Peter Vinding Diers made a career as a winemaker in the Bordeaux region) to make wine for Hacienda Monasterio. But the early years there were difficult (please refer to page 17), and even after the excellent 1994 vintage Sisseck had little to show for his time and effort there. Then his buddy Jean-Luc Thunevin of Chateau Valandraud gave him a piece of advice: make a name for yourself in the region real soon, or quit. The result was Pingus, a wine made from four parcels of low-yielding old vines that has quickly become one of a handful of internationally sought collectibles from Spain, due to its high quality and scarcity. Sisseck objective from the outset was to make "an unmistakably Spanish, terroir-driven wine . . . a garage wine."x000D x000D x000D x000D I tasted the various components of the highly promising '98 from barrel in Sisseck's tiny cellar in the village of Quintanilla de Onesimo, as well as the previous three vintages of this wine. A couple months earlier, Sisseck had shown me the same four vintages in New York. Pingus is 100% tempranillo. Sisseck retained 30% of the stems for the '95, but has destemmed completely since then. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel (except for the '97, which was done in an upright wood fermenter), after which the wine is racked into Darnajou barrels, the same barrels used to make such Bordeaux superstars as L'Eglise-Clinet and Petrus. Racking is kept to a minimum: generally in March, again before the next harvest, and a third time a month before the bottling, which takes place the second June or July.x000D x000D x000D x000D x000D Pingus is a hugely rich, sexy wine with relatively low acidity, substantial alcohol and very high levels of ripe tannins. While tannin readings were elevated in '96, says Sisseck, they were nearly off the charts in 1995-in fact, measurably identical to the tannin levels of the 1975 La Mission Haut Brion, according to Sisseck. "I've largely substituted tannins for acids for the aging of the wine," explains Sisseck. "And I've filled up [buffered] the tannins with high pH and alcohol." While it is too soon to know how these wines will age, the '95 and '96 are developing at a snail's pace. Incidentally, Sisseck has 26 barrels of '98, but will probably ultimately leave 7 or 8 of them out of the grand vin
2012 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Dark purple. Heady, mineral-tinged scents of red and dark berry preserves, potpourri and candied licorice, with a sexy Asian spice nuance in the background. Sweet, high-pitched and delineated, offering densely packed red fruit, mineral and floral pastille flavors that are given spine by smoky minerality. Finishes very long and complex, with slow-building tannins and a lingering floral pastille quality.

Producer Commentary:
1997 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 89.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Full dark ruby-red. Less obviously ripe nose features black cherry and beefsteak tomato. Possesses less weight and flesh on the palate, and thus gives an impression of higher acidity than the '98. Juicy, smoky and vinous. Finishes with sneaky length; the tannins dust the front of the tongue. Sisseck did a light extraction in '97 to avoid green tannins.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck came to Ribera del Duero by way of Bordeaux in 1990 (his uncle Peter Vinding Diers made a career as a winemaker in the Bordeaux region) to make wine for Hacienda Monasterio. But the early years there were difficult (please refer to page 17), and even after the excellent 1994 vintage Sisseck had little to show for his time and effort there. Then his buddy Jean-Luc Thunevin of Chateau Valandraud gave him a piece of advice: make a name for yourself in the region real soon, or quit. The result was Pingus, a wine made from four parcels of low-yielding old vines that has quickly become one of a handful of internationally sought collectibles from Spain, due to its high quality and scarcity. Sisseck objective from the outset was to make "an unmistakably Spanish, terroir-driven wine . . . a garage wine."x000D x000D x000D x000D I tasted the various components of the highly promising '98 from barrel in Sisseck's tiny cellar in the village of Quintanilla de Onesimo, as well as the previous three vintages of this wine. A couple months earlier, Sisseck had shown me the same four vintages in New York. Pingus is 100% tempranillo. Sisseck retained 30% of the stems for the '95, but has destemmed completely since then. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel (except for the '97, which was done in an upright wood fermenter), after which the wine is racked into Darnajou barrels, the same barrels used to make such Bordeaux superstars as L'Eglise-Clinet and Petrus. Racking is kept to a minimum: generally in March, again before the next harvest, and a third time a month before the bottling, which takes place the second June or July.x000D x000D x000D x000D x000D Pingus is a hugely rich, sexy wine with relatively low acidity, substantial alcohol and very high levels of ripe tannins. While tannin readings were elevated in '96, says Sisseck, they were nearly off the charts in 1995-in fact, measurably identical to the tannin levels of the 1975 La Mission Haut Brion, according to Sisseck. "I've largely substituted tannins for acids for the aging of the wine," explains Sisseck. "And I've filled up [buffered] the tannins with high pH and alcohol." While it is too soon to know how these wines will age, the '95 and '96 are developing at a snail's pace. Incidentally, Sisseck has 26 barrels of '98, but will probably ultimately leave 7 or 8 of them out of the grand vin
2014 Pingus
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Opaque purple. Dark berry compote and smoky Indian spices on the intensely perfumed nose, which is complicated by notes of incense and licorice pastille. Deep, sappy and broad on the palate, offering sweet flavors of black and blue fruit liqueur and spicecake. Gains energy as well as depth with aeration, finishing with powerful notes of candied dark berries, smooth, harmonious tannins and wonderful persistence.

Producer Commentary:
2006 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Opaque purple. Powerful, mineral-driven aromas of blackberry, blueberry, creme de cassis, incense and floral oils. Fresh dark berry flavors are youthfully crunchy and strikingly pure, with mounting spiciness and minerality. Silky tannins add support to the broad, palate-staining fruit but quickly fade away, allowing the exotic dark berry flavors to stand out. The mineral element clings impressively on the long, sappy, sweet finish. A superb showing, and no doubt the last time I'll get to try this as it costs more per bottle than my car is worth. 

Producer Commentary:
2011 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Inky purple. An exotic, expressive bouquet displays scents of blueberry, black cherry, violet, licorice and Asian spices, with a subtle smoky nuance in the background. Offers an array of densely packed black and blue fruit and floral flavors that are enlivened by bright minerality. Shows outstanding clarity and energy on the intense, lingering finish.

Producer Commentary:
1999 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 94.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Full medium ruby. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of cassis, plum, violet, minerals and clove oil. Wonderfully sweet and lush but with superb grip and vinosity, thanks to ripe, harmonious acidity. Already shows explosive inner-mouth flavors of dark berries, minerals and bitter chocolate. Finishes with superb length and sweetness. Sure to be the best vintage for Pingus since the great '96. This was to have been bottled by the end of October. 

Producer Commentary:
2005 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Ruby-red. Suave, mineral-accented raspberry and cherry-cola aromas slowly unfold to display anise, graphite, smoky bacon and roasted coffee. Deeply concentrated but improbably elegant, with lively red and dark fruit favors supported by silky tannins and braced by fresh minerality. In no way a blockbuster, this finishes with outstanding persistence and insinuating cassis and mineral qualities. Much more about finesse and balance than size or brute force. One has to lament the price. 

Producer Commentary:
2001 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 95.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: (I tasted the final blend just days before the bottling) Deep ruby-red. Extremely complex, musky, pure nose melds bitter cherry, black raspberry, dried flowers, licorice, gunpowder, bitter chocolate and coffee. Rich, sappy and fine, with a tightly coiled spring of black raspberry fruit and considerable class. Very intensely flavored but also subtle. Finishes with big, chewy, noble tannins and superb length. This filled my mouth and the entire inside of my head. As young Pingus typically does, this began floral and rather delicate, then grew fatter and more chocolatey with extended aeration, showing near-roasted ripeness. Based on the reputations of the two vintages, this should ultimately surpass the 2000 Pingus, but that earlier wine is a huge success in the context of the year.

Producer Commentary:
1998 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 92.5

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Saturated ruby-red. Highly nuanced nose of black- and redcurrant, raspberry, Cuban tobacco, minerals, brown spices and currant leaf. Large-scaled but sharply delineated, though less sweet and a bit heavier than the '99. Shows the intriguing ProvenÃ§al herb component that I've found in just about every vintage of Pingus. Finishes very long, with firm acids and tannins. With 48 hours in the recorked bottle, this showed exotic spices and white pepper, and a Burgundian finesse. Perhaps not quite as thick as I thought a year ago; or perhaps it is simply overwhelmed today by the '99. 

Producer Commentary:
2004 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Dark violet. Expansive yet suave bouquet of smoky blackcurrant, blueberry and boysenberry, accented by vanilla, clove, iron, sandalwood, cigar box and minerals. Remarkably graceful and sweet, with outstanding depth and richness. Offers striking concentration and finesse and finishes utterly seamless, deep and extremely long. 

Producer Commentary:
1995 Pingus Ribera Del Duero
Color: Red

Score: 96.0

Drinking window: 0 - 0

Tasting notes: Deep ruby-red. Mellow, deep aromas of dark berries and exotic wood tones, with a suggestion of ProvenÃ§al herbs; not quite as lively or perfumed as the brighter '96. Shows the roasted, gamey ripeness that characterizes so many '95s from the region. Great sweetness and complexity in the mouth. Doesn't possess quite the sappy lift of the '96, but perhaps even more concentrated. Powerful underlying structure and palate-staining persistence. Has the thick, 3-D texture to buffer its huge, ripe tannins. I ultimately give the '96 a slight edge on sheer brightness, but this is compelling wine.

Producer Commentary:
Peter Sisseck came to Ribera del Duero by way of Bordeaux in 1990 (his uncle Peter Vinding Diers made a career as a winemaker in the Bordeaux region) to make wine for Hacienda Monasterio. But the early years there were difficult (please refer to page 17), and even after the excellent 1994 vintage Sisseck had little to show for his time and effort there. Then his buddy Jean-Luc Thunevin of Chateau Valandraud gave him a piece of advice: make a name for yourself in the region real soon, or quit. The result was Pingus, a wine made from four parcels of low-yielding old vines that has quickly become one of a handful of internationally sought collectibles from Spain, due to its high quality and scarcity. Sisseck objective from the outset was to make "an unmistakably Spanish, terroir-driven wine . . . a garage wine."x000D x000D x000D x000D I tasted the various components of the highly promising '98 from barrel in Sisseck's tiny cellar in the village of Quintanilla de Onesimo, as well as the previous three vintages of this wine. A couple months earlier, Sisseck had shown me the same four vintages in New York. Pingus is 100% tempranillo. Sisseck retained 30% of the stems for the '95, but has destemmed completely since then. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel (except for the '97, which was done in an upright wood fermenter), after which the wine is racked into Darnajou barrels, the same barrels used to make such Bordeaux superstars as L'Eglise-Clinet and Petrus. Racking is kept to a minimum: generally in March, again before the next harvest, and a third time a month before the bottling, which takes place the second June or July.x000D x000D x000D x000D x000D Pingus is a hugely rich, sexy wine with relatively low acidity, substantial alcohol and very high levels of ripe tannins. While tannin readings were elevated in '96, says Sisseck, they were nearly off the charts in 1995-in fact, measurably identical to the tannin levels of the 1975 La Mission Haut Brion, according to Sisseck. "I've largely substituted tannins for acids for the aging of the wine," explains Sisseck. "And I've filled up [buffered] the tannins with high pH and alcohol." While it is too soon to know how these wines will age, the '95 and '96 are developing at a snail's pace. Incidentally, Sisseck has 26 barrels of '98, but will probably ultimately leave 7 or 8 of them out of the grand vin

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