2019 Vega Sicilia Pintia Toro

Winemaker Notes

Pintia lies on the banks of the Duero River, within the DO Toro. The extremely cold winters and hot summers have an effect on the complex soils, which are rich in pebbles. It is therefore essential to pick the grapes at the right moment to preserve the fresh aromas and acidity of the wine. The vintage was hot and dry. It rained just before the harvest, which helped us to tame the powerful, concentrated and rustic skins. We gave the skins time to polymerise, but the priority was always to pick fresh grapes. This vintage was more about infusion than extraction. 15% of the wine was aged in large containers to preserve its fruitiness and freshness. It was a vintage of great concentration, so we had to limit the influence of the toasted oak in favour of freshness.

Pintia 2019 is energetic, bold and full-bodied, but it is also silky. We had to work really hard to tame it, but we are proud of the result.

The independent member of the Vega Sicilia family. Pintia is young, intense and ground-breaking in nature. Proud of its origin, it has managed to reinterpret the Vega Sicilia culture in an innovative, brave and daring manner, at the head of the emergence of a new generation of Toro wines.

As is the case of all TEMPOS Vega Sicilia wines, the harvest is by hand with the fruit being placed in 12-kg boxes and grapes, once in the winery, they are left in a cold chamber for 12 hours in order to preserve their fruit intensity.

Along with the selection on the wine, a double sorting is carried out in the winery. This first removes those bunches that may have been wrongly picked in the field and the second focuses on the substandard berries that are found on optimum bunches. A cold maceration is carried out for 5 days prior to fermentation in oak wood vats.

Malolactic fermentation takes place in 100% wood. Subsequently, it is aged in French and American oak for 12 months. These are wines of great intensity of color and depth, cherry red with cardinal edges. The nose is broad, very clean, expressive and elegant, with great fruity intensity, wrapped in subtle, high quality wood. The palate offers a great structure, good tannic presence and a very friendly, fresh and persistent palate. Floral hints in retronasal.

About Winery

Vega Sicilia is one of Spain’s most iconic and prestigious wineries, with a rich history dating back to 1864. Here's a brief overview:

Founded by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, a Spanish winemaker trained in Bordeaux, who brought with him French grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. He planted these alongside the native Tempranillo (then called Tinto del País) in the Ribera del Duero region.

The winery gained fame in the 20th century for producing some of Spain’s most celebrated wines, especially its flagship wine, Único, known for its complexity and extraordinary aging potential.

In 1982, the Álvarez family acquired Vega Sicilia, marking a new era of modernization and expansion. Under Pablo Álvarez’s leadership, the winery has maintained its legendary status while also expanding into other regions like Toro (with Pintia) and Rioja.

Despite its name, Vega Sicilia has no connection to the island of Sicily. “Vega” refers to fertile river plains, and “Sicilia” is believed to reference Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music.

*Vintage can vary and is subject to change without notice