2018 Antoine Graillot + Raul Perez Bierzo Tinto 'Encinas

"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." - Luis Gutierrez Review Date: June 2020