The colour is deep ruby, almost inky. On the nose plum, dark cherries, blueberries, and blackberries, layered with notes of smoke, cedar, coffee, and incense. In the mouth full-bodied and powerful yet remarkably balanced. Silky, fine-grained tannins. Flavors of ripe dark fruit, dark chocolate, and plum compote, balanced by a fresh acidity. The aftertaste is remarkably long and pleasant.
Overall, this wine displays a lot of power, but no excess: everything feels composed and quietly luxurious.
This wine is made by Dominio de Pingus with 100% Tempranillo grapes (locally known as Tinto Fino), mostly from old vines planted in the 1950s. The fruit comes from 16 different plots in La Horra and Roa, situated at altitudes between 700 and 850 meters in the Ribera del Duero wine region of Spain.
The story of Dominio de Pingus began in 1995, when Danish oenologist Peter Sisseck arrived in Ribera del Duero. He sought out old, neglected bush vines and applied meticulous, low-yield winemaking techniques that were unheard of in the region at the time.
Flor de Pingus is the estate’s second wine, first appearing in the early 2000s. While it is more accessible than the rare and expensive flagship Pingus it is produced with the same uncompromising philosophy.
Sisseck’s philosophy is minimal intervention: respect the vine, avoid chemicals, and let the fruit speak. Fermentation is precise, and élevage in oak is handled with restraint, allowing structure without overshadowing purity. The estate follows biodynamic farming principles.
For the 2014 vintage, the wine fermented with natural yeasts, and it was aged for 16 to 18 months in French oak barrels, of which only roughly 25% were new to allow the fruit and terroir to shine.
Flor de Pingus was never meant to be a mere second label. It aims to be its own expression of place. The 2014 is widely regarded as one of the most successful vintages for Flor de Pingus, often described as a “mini-Pingus” for its proximity in quality to the estate’s flagship label.
I received this bottle as a present a few years ago. Nowadays, it sells for 115 CHF.
It is a bottle I really enjoyed. One of the best of the few thousand I have tasted so far in my life.
Country: Spain
Region: Ribera del Duero
Grapes: Tempranillo
Type: Red
Vintage: 2014
Producer: Dominio de Pingus
Price range: Luxury (>100 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 5/5