2017 Pingus ‘PSI’ Tempranillo

The nose is subtle, the aromatics enticing but subliminal. The palate is more strident, densely concentrated and packed with black fruit, blueberry and plum, layered with minerals, driven and focused.
The 2017 vintage has been characterized as being hot and dry. Low water reserves at the start became more severe during the months of July and August, when conditions were extremely dry except for some heavy rains towards the beginning of the harvest. But without a doubt the defining moment of the year was the frost that affected much of Ribera del Duero on April 28 immediately following budding, resulting in weak plant mass. This affected plant growth and flowering for the entire year resulting in production losses between 70 and 80%. This devastation was followed by some very hot months in June and July. Because of these issues, the grapes of this vintage have been smaller in size. Peter Sisseck described it as, “an early harvest characterized by ripe aromas, great extract and low acidity.” Due to the heavy frost that occurred in Ribera de Duero, they’ve had to seek out new areas in the DO, such as Burgos and Soria, for the production of PSI.
PSI is made using grapes sourced from vine-growers with whom the winery has strict working agreements, from balanced vineyards, planted with bush vines on soils that are different in composition and averaging 30 years old in age. Maceration takes place in concrete tanks in order to obtain the maximum possible from the fruit aromas; and ageing occurs in concrete tanks, in large oak vats and in not-new barrels.