Wine Vega Sicilia Pintia Toro DO Magnum 2015

Vega Sicilia Pintia DO Toro 2015 is located on the banks of the Duero River, in the Toro appellation, Castilla y Leon. It is a dry red wine that was made from the Tinta de Toro grape. The extreme weather conditions typical of the area, namely extremely cold winters and hot summers, affect the quality of the soil, known for its abundance of stones. Because of these growing conditions, it is crucial to choose the ideal time to harvest, so as to preserve the maximum freshness and intensity of the wine's aromas and acidity.

2015 was a very warm vintage, with warmer than usual summer temperatures recorded for this time of year. The first frost occurred in mid-November. Winter was cold, with temperatures reaching -4 degrees in early January. Spring brought rainy and wet weather, with as much as half of the total annual precipitation recorded at that time. Budding occurred in late March, and flowering occurred in the first week of June. The summer was hot but, thanks to the accumulated moisture from the spring, the soil yielded its full potential, which translated into the rich aromas of the ripening grapes. September was a dry month, which allowed the grapes to ripen quietly, harmoniously and aromatically, and the vines to ripen comfortably; the grapes were harvested between September 10 and 21. The average age of the vines was 32 years, the area was 96 hectares. Pintia 2015 was aged 80% in French oak barrels and 20% in American oak barrels. The number of new oak barrels was reduced by 20% to ensure the freshness of the wine. Production counted 203,857 bottles of Bordeaux, 6,496 bottles of Magnum, 474 Double Magnum bottles, 45 Imperial and 5 Salmanazar.

The wine was made from 100% Tinta de Toro variety, the alcohol content is 15%. Wines from this vintage are considered more refined than those from previous vintages. It is characterized by unique fruit and spice aromas, the structure is rich, complex and intense, notes of blackberry, black currant, chocolate and cedar, pepper, vanilla, cherries, exotic spices appear. The taste is extremely concentrated, the wine on the palate leaves a long finish with a slightly sweet aftertaste and smoky and mineral accents at the end. The wine is ready to drink now, and kept in the right conditions, i.e. temperature between 12-14 C and 60% humidity, it has a maturation potential of 15 years.

Vega Sicilia Pintia Toro DO Magnum 2015 wine reviews

"A very complex and intense Pintia with lots of blackberry, chocolate and cedar. Full body. The wine is more refined than in previous vintages. One of the more balanced bottles from this winery. Delicious." - James Suckling

"Intense aromas of cherry, black currant, exotic spices and pepper mingle with subtle notes of licorice, tobacco and vanilla. Deep, sweet and penetrating on the palate. The mouth offers intense, spice and smoke flavors with berry and cola. The floral note gains strength on the strikingly long finish, which leaves behind smoky and mineral accents." - Vinous

Vega Sicilia Vineyard

Vega Sicilia is widely regarded as one of the best wine producers in Spain. The Ribera del Duero estate is famous for its dense, complex red wines made primarily from the Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) grape varietal. Its top wine, Unico, is one of the most expensive and sought-after wines in Spain.

The Vega Sicilia estate covers about 1,000 hectares (2,470 acres), of which about 210 hectares (520 acres) are occupied by vines. It has been in operation since 1864, long before the development of the appellation in which it is located, and the current style of wines has been maintained since the 1910s. The quality of the wines has become even more consistent since the current owners, the Alvarez family, took over in 1982.

The vineyards are planted to about 80 percent Tempranillo, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec taking up the remainder. Yields are kept low by green harvesting and painstaking grape selection. The vinification processes are also meticulous, using different types of barrels, blending old and new oak to create wines that are capable of long aging in the cellar.

Awards: Vega Sicilia Pintia Toro DO Magnum 2015

• Robert Parker - 94/100
• James Suckling - 95/100
• Vinous - 95/100
• Decanter - 93/100