Mother Nature’s stroke of the brush on the wine region of Toro in Spain is the altitude and the soil. At 600-750m above seal level, the cool nights help the grapes cling to the deep colour and rich flavour of Tinto de Toro (Tempranillo) that ripens during the very warm days. So many of Toro’s vines are quite old, grown as individual bushvines and on their original rootstocks due to the phylloxera-resistant soils. The mighty Vega Sicilia’s Pintia is without question one of Toro’s most majestic and sophisticated wines. Today we share with you the release of the 2017 vintage and announce an upcoming tasting of this and other wines from the Vega Sicilia stable.
Dear Reader,
Founded in 1864 in Ribera del Duero and owned by the Alvarez family since 1982, the mighty Spanish estate of Vega Sicilia added Bodegas y Viñedos Pintia to its arsenal with a maiden commercial release in 2001. As much as 72% of Pintia’s old vines are still planed on their original rootstocks.
The 2017 vintage of Pintia is 100% Tinto de Toro and the wine was matured in a mix of new and used oak barrels for twelve months. The decision was made to reduce the amount of American oak by 5%, so on the 2017 the percentage of American oak is 20% and the rest is French.
”…the wine is ripe, juicy, round and powerful…It feels quite fresh and harmonious…It keeps the poise and the balance and has abundant but fine tannins. These wines repay time in bottle, and even if approachable now, it should get better with time.”
94+ points | Luis Gutiérrez for Wine Advocate
”Inky colour, with exuberant aromas of blackberries, cranberries and cedar. The palate is all about power, balanced by fine freshness…dark fruits…black pepper and cumin spices.”
94 points | Sarah Jane Evans MW for Decanter
Tempos Vega Sicilia Tasting
Oremus (Tokaj), Pintia (Toro) & Alion (Ribera del Duero)
Oremus, Mandolas Furmint 2019
Oremus, Mandolas Furmint 2020
Oremus, Pétracs single vineyard Furmint 2018
Bodegas y Viñedos Pintia, Toro 2017
Bodegas y Viñedos Alion, Ribera del Duero 2016
Bodegas y Viñedos Alion, Ribera del Duero 2017
Bodegas y Viñedos Alion, Ribera del Duero 2018
Oremus, Aszu 5 Puttonyos 2014 (500ml)
R 950 per person
Price includes all wines and palate cleansers
Limited to 24 people
Thursday 23 February 2023
18:00
Great Domaines
2 Jameson Avenue
Melrose Estate
Johannesburg 2196
Wednesday 1 March 2023
18:00
Culture Wine Bar
The Wine Library
103 Bree Street
Cape Town 8001
