Pintia 2014

The 2014 Pintia matured in 75% French and 25% American oak barrels for approximately one and a half years. It is a slightly riper year than 2013, and the wine is more powerful but at the same time I found it extremely aromatic, expressive and open, quite typical from Toro. It is a more elegant style, with less rusticity, and the tannins are fine-grained, present and quite abundant but also quite round. It has a great mouthfeel, with the wild berry, aromatic herbs and spicy flavors lingering in your mouth. This is a great vintage for Pintia. With time in the glass, it still shows some smoky undertones that make it feel quite young. 177,477 bottles and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in April 2016.

Strong character here. Attractive violets and wet-earth notes with very dark, glossy and rich dark plums and cherries. The richness of the blood-plum flavor is impressive, the palate very plush and very smoothly rendered. Power with freshness and terrific tannin depth. Great result for the vintage.

2014 was a good vintage, not excessively hot, and this is a really elegant expression of Toro that will continue to develop - Pintia showing that it's finding its feet. It has aromas of violets and delicate cedar, with a fresh, balanced, rounded palate displaying rich, dense notes of redcurrant and damson that run smoothly over the tongue. There's an edge of acidity and a finishing boom of warmth. A subtle change in the oak regime sees this in 90% new oak (rather than the traditional 100%), and 80% French and 20% American oak (a shift towards more French oak).