Very deep purplish crimson right out to rim. Heady youthful bumptious Tempranillo savoury tobacco leaf character plus lots of sweet oak. Dramatic but less distinguished and local than some. Blackberries, rich, round and mouth-coating. Very alluring start to the ultra-fruity, hedonistic palate before massive, slightly furry tannins crowd in. Very youthful indeed. Sisseck is extremely enthusiastic about this vintage in which he has gone back to keeping about 20 per cent of the stalks in. It was picked in late October with a yield of under 20 hl/ha and massive natural alcohol. - JR
JR18.5December 2004
Readers can look forward to a spectacular, nearly perfect 1999 Pingus. It boasts an opaque ruby/purple color, sensational extract, gorgeous concentration, and spectacularly intense blackberry and cherry aromas and flavors infused with incense, coffee, chocolate, and toasty new oak. Enormous levels of extract and richness are accompanied by a full-bodied, glycerin-imbued, thick, viscous finish. The tannin is nearly hidden by the wine's wealth of fruit and concentration. (RP) - WA
WA98August 2001