Description
PSI is the brainchild of Peter Sisseck. founder of Dominio de Pingus arguably Spain most famous wine.
The idea is to utilise some neglected. but potentially great old assets. human and vinous. of Ribera del Duero. In short. they are the old bush vine holdings (80 years old) of the senior citizens (some octagenarians amongst them!) of Ribera del Duero. old peasant guys in the main. who have been growing fruit to sell off for decades.
In the main. despite the great age and quality of the vineyards. the resultant material and commercially realised wines have been uninspiring. In conjunction with Pablo Rubio (winemaker at Dominio de Pingus). Peter has re fashioned the viticulture of these old vines. and rejuvenated the old guys ™ relationship with their beloved gnarled old plots. PSI is organic and biodynamic Tinto del Pais (local clone Tempranillo) from old bush vine plots at around 900m altitude in the valleys of Gromejón and Perales. from 4 principal locations Pedrosa de Duero. La Aguilera. Gumiel de Izan and Peñaranda de Duero. This is similar territory to Cillar de Silos. to the north of Aranda del Deuro in the central zone of RdD. First vintage. 2007. ˜Arnaldo ™ is a lovely tract of land near Peter ™s home. and mere namesake of the project. not its location. PSI is the 23rd letter of the Greek Alphabet (and also the initials P and Si of the maker. señor Sisseck).
Smells like sitting on the earth next to a truly old vine “ there ™s depth and wisdom and power. but measured. and softly spoken. Tanned hide. meat glaze. dark purply fruit. pimiento with a crunch of pink peppercorn and the deep woodily wizened smell of old. gnarled vines. Gently. beautifully earthy to smell and taste. it ™s dark and savoury. but with no heaviness. The palate is self assured. rested. composed. deeply rooted in its sense of place. Beautiful deep. subtle palate. with wonderful fruit tannin. spice and the expression of vine age. winemaking (to the extent it ™s discernible) is incredibly dab handed. judicious. beautiful. Old vine material overly handled gets too dry and abstract. but this has been lightly handled and retains juicy deftness along with the old vine depth. extract and character. Great wine. tremendous value. Tastes and feels like Barolo made from very good Burgundy fruit 2010 was a dream growing season arguably the vintage of a generation in Ribera Del Duero. in the sensitive hands of someone like Peter Sisseck we get wines combining power. complexity. finesse and deftness. To obtain a softer extraction. the grapes of ˜PSI ™ are vinified in large traditional concrete vats. The wine then spends a further 17 months ageing in a combination of concrete and wooden vats and oak barriques. all of which nurture and gently extract the wine ™s complexity and natural aromas. This is top shelf.
RRP $100
