2020 Bodegas Pintia, Toro, Spain
Description
This is one of the most ethereal Pintias in recent memory. A superb representation of Tinta del Toro, the old bush vines here contribute a wonderful concentration of fruit and complexity throughout. It’s expressive on the nose, with beautiful aromas of black rose petals, sweet red cherries and wafts of dried herbs. Silky in texture, with an effortless balance, there’s a wealth of plush dark fruit at its core, alongside a juicy acidity that brings in a long freshness. Spiced blackberries, clove and fennel vie for attention, and the finish is all class.
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Colour
Red -
Sweetness
Dry -
Vintage
2020 -
Alcohol
15.5% -
Grape
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino/Tinto Roriz -
Body
Full Bodied -
Producer
Bodegas Pintia
Critics reviews
100% Tinta de Toro. 35-year-old vineyards in San Román de Hornija, at about 700 m above sea level. The whole vineyard is covered with large pebbles. It is an impressive sight, and it seems impossible they can work this soil. It rains very little, only 330 mm, and although the subsoil is very clayey, this stony layer helps to slow the evaporation rate. The grapes were harvested early in the first week of September because there were heat shocks that caused some dehydration.
As this was such a powerful vintage, less extraction was done and more was made in large-format fermentation vessels such as 700- and 1,600-litre clay vasijas 6%) and stainless-steel tank 14%). The rest was made in wood, reducing the percentage of American oak barrels and the degree of toasting to try to reduce the heaviness. In total, 11 months of ageing followed by a further 30 months of resting in the bottle. Production: 14,304 half-bottles, 209,009 bottles, 6,645 magnums, 500 double magnums, 40 Imperials and 5 Salmanazars.
Very dark ruby colour. Very concentrated plum and black-fruit flavours. The tannin is impressive, voluminous and very sweet. Sweet black fruit on the palate with a very high level of ripeness. It is a compact wine, with high alcohol and warmth, something characteristic of the region. One of the most voluminous and powerful Pintia wines ever made. However, there is a hint of bitterness and a hint of herbs at the end of the palate. Dense and very concentrated, it reflects what has been the most opulent year.
Drink 2024 - 2040
The 2020 Pintia is from a powerful year of concentration, so they were very careful with the harvest date, did a softer vinification trying to extract less and included amphorae and less toast in the élevage. It's opulent and juicy but gentle. The wine reached 15.5% alcohol and has a pH of 3.9 with 4.4 grams of acidity. It fermented in stainless steel and oak vats with indigenous yeasts. It was a very warm and dry vintage in Toro, with a heat wave before the harvest, so they had to rush to pick the grapes; and still the wine is richer and more powerful, even though the amphorae helped them contain the sensation of ripeness in the wine.
It has a heady and ripe profile, very aromatic and showy, with notes of very ripe berries, prunes and decayed violets with a faint volatile twist. It matured 70% in new barrels, 10% in used barrels, 10% in stainless steel and 5% in clay pots. It's full bodied and lush, with abundant, slightly dusty tannins. It was a ripe and powerful vintage for Pintia, but it evolved nicely in the glass, showing less of its ripe side with time, which to me is a good sign. Some 14,304 half bottles, 209,009 bottles, 6,645 magnums and some larger formats were produced. It was bottled in August 2022.
Drink 2026 - 2032