Pingus Ribera del Duero 2009

98 points Falstaff Guide (Apr 2013).

97 points Luis Gutiérrez (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. (6/27/13)"

97 points Jeff Leve (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. (May 2012)"

96+ points Josh Raynolds (International Wine Cellar): "Dark purple. Drop-dead gorgeous aromas of spicy dark berries complicated by vanilla, mocha, espresso, iron, licorice and sexy oak spices. Sweet and expansive, showing great depth to its ripe blackberry and boysenberry flavors. Notes of candied flowers, cola and mocha gain strength with air and carry through an extremely long, sweet finish. There's plenty of structure here but it's hidden under all the dense fruit right now. That price is correct, sadly. (Nov/Dec 2011)"

96 points Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine: "Colour: very deep cherry;Aroma: characterful, complex, expressive, red berry notes, creamy oak, new oak;Flavour: flavourful, powerful, fleshy, good acidity, elegant, balanced. (Jun 2011)"