Viña El Pisón

Score

99

"The flagship single-vineyard 2018 Viña El Pisón has to be one of the finest vintages for this bottling. It's named after a plot of 2.4 hectares planted in 1945 in the village of Laguardia. The vineyard is an amphitheater with changing soils of limestone, clay and sandstone with a deep combination of limestone and silt. The grapes underwent a 24- to 48-hour cold soak and fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats for 10-12 days, during which time the grapes were foot trodden twice per day. It matured in French oak barrels for nine months. There's something mysterious about this Pisón; it's subtle and elegant, a little austere and reticent at first. The palate is seamless, silky with very refined tannins, with gobsmacking balance and a very long, clean and precise finish. This is superb. 6,600 bottles were filled in June 2020."

Score

97+

"The perfumed, nuanced and fragrant nose of 2017 Viña El Pisón clearly tells you this wine has something special. It's a very consistent vineyard, the one that seems to deliver irrespective of the character of the year. This wine combines power with finesse. The palate is medium-bodied, and the tannins are very fine with a chalky texture that clings to your teeth and makes the finish long and very tasty. 4,467 bottles were filled in July 2019."

Score

98

"This is very tight and focused with precise tannins that run deep and long on the palate. Character of blackberries, tar and slate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with freshness and excellent focus on the finish for the vintage. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2022."