Wine Advisor
Dominio de Pingus, Pingus Ribera del Duero 2003
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A candidate for perfection, the profound 2003 Pingus possesses an awesome smoky, blackberry, and cassis-scented nose intermixed with hints of espresso roast, lead pencil shavings, cedar, and subtle new oak. Sensational concentration, a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol, and wood, and a blockbuster finish lasting nearly a minute result in one of the most profound wines ever made in Spain. It should age effortlessly for two decades or more. A limited cuvee, named after the importer’s daughter, the 2003 Amelia, is produced from 100-year old vines. Although there are only 25 cases available, it is worth noting as it is a super effort boasting all the same characteristics as the great Pingus, only lacking that wine’s extra nuances and dimensions in its bouquet and flavor profiles. These are the wines of a true genius! Kudos to Peter Sisseck. Importer: The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Although I would not regard the 2003 Pingus as a perfect wine, it remains a fantastic Ribera del Duero. It has a scintillating bouquet of dark cherries, graphite, black truffle, Indian ink and liquorice that is incredibly precise. The palate is rounded and opulent on the entry: an unashamedly luscious wine with a silky-smooth texture. It is generous and perhaps a little more forward than I was expecting, but it is a Pingus that is impossible to dislike. Drink now-2025+.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright deep ruby. Black raspberry and musky, roasted Darnajou oak on the nose. Remarkably deep in the mouth, with an extraordinary creamy sweetness. Sappy black raspberry fruit offers a powerful impression of solidity. The huge but noble tannins dust the front teeth. Extraordinarily long and sweet on the back end; if any wine can be described as liquid sex, this might be the one. The first time I tried this young wine was with Jean-Luc Thunevin in St. Emilion at the end of March: it was the best 2003 I tasted on the Right Bank of Bordeaux on my spring tour. But then Pingus has a sweetness that Bordeaux can never match.
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
Bright deep ruby. Black raspberry and musky, roasted Darnajou oak on the nose. Remarkably deep in the mouth, with an extraordinary creamy sweetness. Sappy black raspberry fruit offers a powerful impression of solidity. The huge but noble tannins dust the front teeth. Extraordinarily long and sweet on the back end; if any wine can be described as liquid sex, this might be the one. The first time I tried this young wine was with Jean-Luc Thunevin in St. Emilion at the end of March: it was the best 2003 I tasted on the Right Bank of Bordeaux on my spring tour. But then Pingus has a sweetness that Bordeaux can never match.
About the Producer
Dominio de Pingus is a prestigious winery located in Quintanilla de Onésimo, within the Ribera del Duero region of Spain. Founded in 1995 by Danish oenologist Peter Sisseck, the winery is renowned for its limited production of high-quality wines, particularly its flagship wine, Pingus, which is considered a "cult wine" and commands high prices. The estate focuses on old-vine Tempranillo, with vineyards that have never been treated with pesticides or fertilizers. Dominio de Pingus also produces a second wine, Flor de Pingus, and a special cuvée called Ribera del Duero "Amelia." The winery emphasizes biodynamic practices and minimal intervention in winemaking, resulting in wines that showcase the unique terroir of the region.
1996(1)2001(3)
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