2018 Antoine Graillot & Raúl Pérez "Encinas" Bierzo

SKU #1492167 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

From granite and clay soils, the reductive 2018 Encinas fermented in concrete and matured in an oak vat. The reduction should eventually go, but it gives it an old-time Cornas profile. Mencía is quite reductive and it shows here. But the palate is superb, especially in the cooler and fresher 2018 vintage. The wine has stuffing and freshness, and the traditional, somewhat rustic profile should turn into a beauty in bottle. It needs time and air, as that reductive character reveals itself in a flinty way with a touch of sesame seeds. 10,000 bottles produced. (LG) (6/2020)

K&L Notes

This is the inpired collaoration of Antoine Graillot, the youngest son of Alain Graillot from Crozes-Hermitage, and Raúl Pérez. The concept of this wine is to apply both Graillot and Pérez techniques to the terroir of Bierzo. Antoine’s contribution was fermentation in cement vat, a practice that fell out of favor in Bierzo a generation ago but is still used by the Graillot family in Crozes-Hermitage. In addition to providing local knowledge and access for the grape purchases, Raúl also encouraged Antoine to leave the wine on the skins for an extended period of time after the whole cluster fermentation was complete. The wine then spends time in large foudre, another piece of Perez's influence.