Pingus Psi 2019

Blackberry and black-cherry aromas with lavender, cedar and hints of cloves and white pepper, following through to a medium body with ultra-fine tannins and a beautiful, creamy finish. A little tight and reserved now. Another impressive PSI. Give it until 2022.

The 2019 PSI combines their knowledge of the vineyards and their new winery. They learned a lot in 2018, a more heterogeneous vintage, and their sorting machine for grapes had to work a lot. 2019 was more homogeneous, an easier harvest when most people made better wine. In the winery, they invested in a simple building but top technology. They used some 10% Garnacha in the blend, which was done one year after aging the lots separately. It really reminds me of the young wines from Ribera del Duero from the early 1990s, with some aromas of orange peel, earthy and smoky (very mild) and with fine-grained tannins. It has good ripeness at 14% alcohol and integrated acidity but great balance. It showcases the style of the 2019s here, fresher than expected and still a sunny vintage, when 2018 was more crystalline. A triumph over the natural conditions of the year. Rating: 93+

Inky ruby. Highly perfumed cherry and dark berry scents are complemented by a suave floral nuance, and a spicy element adds lift. Silky, sharply focused and seamless on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit flavors that deepen steadily as the wine opens up. Lush yet energetic in style, with solid closing thrust and supple tannin's building slowly and adding gentle grip to the floral-driven finish.

Peter Sisseck founded his Psi project in 2006, working to train local growers in organic and biodynamic viticulture. He released his first vintage in 2007, with gentle extractions and minimal new oak. Fast-forward to the challenging 2017 vintage and the latest release sustains some blueberry and currant-jam flavors, but it’s the oak tannins that dominate. It’s a smoky, meaty red to pour with braised lamb. ¤