Dominio de Pingus - Pingus 2009

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2009 Pingus was released last year, but it should still be pretty available. It was harvested on October 5 and 6 under perfect conditions. It is a powerful and concentrated vintage for Pingus. I’m amazed at how much the wine integrated with one extra year in the bottle – the aromas are more precise, starting to reveal the true personality of the wine. The nose is very perfumed and balsamic, with notes of violets and ripe, juicy fruit, quite high-pitched. The oak is well-integrated into the wine. The palate is very powerful, full-bodied, concentrated but balanced, and wearing its 14.5% alcohol lightly, in a very difficult combination of power and elegance, with abundant but silky tannins. Very long aftertaste. 5,600 bottles were produced. Drink: 2015-2035."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: 97 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "From 100% Tempranillo planted in 1929, this small 4.2 hectare estate produced an inky colored wine. Mineral, flowers and liqueur of blackberry in the perfume are followed by a wine that fills your mouth and coats your palate with sweet, ripe, dense, pure, licorice and fresh, chocolate, boysenberry and cherry. This is long, lush, rich and intense. Based on a recent vertical tasting, the owner, Peter Sisseck said his favorite vintage of Pingus remains the wine’s debut 1995 release along with the 1999."

JAMES SUCKLING: " Extremely aromatic with rose petal, violet and sandalwood character. Full body, flamboyant fruit. Dried berry and blueberry flavors. Then the tannins kick in, giving the wine tone and form. Drink or hold."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Round and rich, this is still young, showing firm, fresh tannins that frame pure fruit flavors of plum and cassis, along with spice notes that give way to the smoky finish.--Non-blind Pingus vertical (January 2012). Drink now through 2029. 545 cases made."