Antoine Graillot & Raul Pérez - Encinas 2020
The Encinas vintage is a collaboration between winegrowers Raul Pérez from Bierzo, and Antoine Graillot from Rhône and Beaujolais. The concept of this project consists of applying the Graillot and Pérez techniques to the Bierzo terroir. Antoine's contribution was fermentation in cement vats , a practice that fell out of favor in Bierzo a generation ago but still used by the Graillot family in Crozes-Hermitage. The tank he purchased for this project couldn't fit through Raúl's cellar door, so they had to remove part of the roof in order to lower it using a crane. In addition to providing local knowledge and access to grape purchases, Raúl also encouraged Antoine to leave the wine on the skins for an extended period once the grapes had fully fermented.
Encinas is made from the local Mencia grape variety. The grapes come from three different sites in the northwest quadrant of Bierzo, including the Rapolao vineyard in Valtuille de Abajo, a site that is quickly recognized as one of the finest in the appellation. The wine is aged for 10 months in barrels .
Grape variety: 100% Mencia