2009 Pingus Ribera Del Duero

(97-100 Points) The flagship, the 2009 Pingus (300 cases) is a monumental offering that defies description. Dense, complex, loaded, sexy, these are just some of the words that come to mind, but the only way to truly experience the 2009 Pingus will be to do whatever it takes to get a taste. It will easily last for 50 years.

Dominio de Pingus is where Peter Sisseck, Danish ex-pat, works his magic. Having visited the cellars in May 2010 where I first tasted these wines and again in February 2011 with the importer, there is no doubting that these (along with the 2004s) are the greatest wines of Sisseck’s career. Pingus is pricy (but no more expensive than a Bordeaux First Growth) while Flor de Pingus (as they say in boxing) is pound for pound one of the great values in winedom. These 2009s (all 100% Tempranillo) are barrel samples but since they will go into bottle without manipulation the consumer can have complete confidence in what is being purchased. Wine Advocate #195, Jun 2011