Vega Sicilia : Pintia 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for Vega Sicilia’s Pintia 2021

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep, intensely purple hue with a bright rim.

Nose

The bouquet is precise and complex, unveiling pure aromas of blackberry and raspberry, alongside notes of wild mint and Medjool dates. Intense scents of fully ripe, juicy fruit mingle with nuances of dried flowers, cedar and coffee beans, with pleasantly mentholated touches. Notes of plum, warm stone and withered violet add to the overall aromatic richness.

Palate

Lively and opulent, the palate captivates with its silky feel and a compact yet layered texture. The tannic structure shows a lovely chew with fine-grained tannins, offering smooth, refined tannins of well-controlled power. Flavors of blackcurrant, blueberry and graphite echo the aromas on the nose, accompanied by subtle smoky and toasty notes that are perfectly integrated. Despite its 15% alcohol, this vintage offers remarkable freshness and clarity, with the region’s signature punch. The finish is long and focused, with impressive aromatic finesse.

Food and wine pairings

This powerful, harmonious red wine will pair ideally with grilled red meats, game in sauce or slow-cooked dishes with intense flavors.

Serving and cellaring

Pintia 2021 can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve until around 2040. Decanting for one hour will allow its aromatic complexity to be fully appreciated.

A harmonious, well-balanced Toro wine by Vega Sicilia

The estate

Founded in 1864 by Eloy Lecanda in Valbuena de Duero, Vega Sicilia stands as the absolute benchmark of Ribera del Duero. The estate spans more than 1,000 hectares, including 210 hectares of vineyards. Owned by the Alvarez family since 1982, the domaine primarily grows tinto fino and tempranillo. A pioneer in applying Bordeaux methods in Spain, Vega Sicilia created its two legendary cuvées, Unico and Valbuena, as early as 1915, which remain among the most prestigious red wines in the world.

The vineyard

Pintia is made from vines located in the Toro region, a terroir renowned for the power and concentration of its red wines. This appellation benefits from a pronounced continental climate, with extreme temperatures and low rainfall, allowing the tinta de toro grape variety to reach optimal ripeness while preserving beautiful freshness.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in Castile-León stands out for a comparatively cooler growing season for the Toro region. Regular rainfall and less extreme temperatures than usual characterized the year. Three rainy spells in September—unusual and beneficial for this area—brought welcome freshness. Harvest began on September 11, making it possible to hand-pick grapes of exceptional quality.

Vinification and aging

This Pintia 2021 benefited from fermentations carried out entirely in oak barrels. Aging took place over 11 months in a combination of barrels and amphorae, followed by 30 months of bottle aging before release. Bottling was carried out in April 2023.

Grape variety

100% tempranillo.