{"product_id":"2021-antoine-graillot-raul-perez-bierzo-tinto-encinas-la-rata","title":"2021 Antoine Graillot \u0026 Raúl Pérez Bierzo Tinto “Encinas- La Rata”","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen two legends shake hands, the result is unforgettable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The 2021 “Encinas - La Rata” brings together Antoine Graillot—son of the iconic Alain Graillot of Northern Rhône fame—and Raúl Pérez, the undisputed king of old-vine Mencía.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Together, they transport you to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBierzo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a mountain-ringed amphitheater in Castilla y León where hot central plains meet the cool Atlantic. Here, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMencía rules as a medium-bodied, high-acid red that splits the difference between the pepper of Syrah and the elegance of Pinot Noir.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e For the newcomer, it is the ultimate introduction to elite Spain; for the serious collector, its \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003egrand-cru pedigree and unparalleled value \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emean locking down a 3- or 4-pack is an absolute necessity. The magic of this bottling lies in its ancient, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e60- to 80-year-old field blend:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e co-fermented with 100% whole clusters, the Mencía is joined by Alicante Bouschet for fleshiness, Bastardo for high-toned spice, and a splash of white Doña Blanca for vibrant, aromatic lift.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe winemaking is a thrilling collision of philosophies. Famously, the duo had to rip off a section of Pérez’s winery roof just to crane in a massive cement fermentation vat that Antoine insisted on using. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter its time in cement, the wine rested for ten months in large foudres, capturing a pure translation of the prized \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLa Rata\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e parcel. This exceptional site sits directly adjacent to the legendary \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEl Rapolao\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—a coveted vineyard whose single-vineyard bottlings put Mencia on the world stage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Raúl encouraged Antoine to leave the wine on its skins for an extended post-fermentation maceration, embedding a profound structural backbone into the wine's soulful, old-vine DNA.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith a few years of bottle age, the 2021 vintage has entered a spectacular sweet spot, shedding its primary youth like an elegantly cellared Northern Rhône Syrah or a high-toned Nebbiolo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Give it an hour in the glass, and it unfurls with smoky, cracked-black-pepper aromatics, seamlessly married to the silky, wild-strawberry perfume of a great Burgundy. Yet, the finish delivers that unmistakable, mouthwatering Atlantic crunch of crushed-stone mineral brilliance and electric acidity. Do not miss the chance to secure your share of this legendary, limited-allocation collaboration before our tiny allotment disappears.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e¡Viva España! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCritical Acclaim:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/wine_advoate_logo_240x240.png?v=1769834033\" alt=\"Robert Parker Wine Advocate Logo\" style=\"margin-bottom: 16px; float: none;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e94 Points, Wine Advocate: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA new paraje bottling from Antoine Graillot, the 2021 Encinas La Rata is from just below El Rapolao, on clay-rich soils, and is surprisingly perfumed but with the underlying earthiness that I consistently find in the wines here. It's medium-bodied, with contained ripeness and 13% alcohol, with some dusty tannins. This fermented in concrete with some 80% full clusters and 30 days of maceration and matured in a used 700-liter oak barrel. These are wines that repay aging in bottle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SommSelect","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46663317225526,"sku":"SOMM2606-AGR21CYL-750","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0551\/3628\/8822\/files\/2021AntoineGraillot_RaulPerezBierzoTinto_Encinas-LaRata_2.png?v=1782254895","url":"https:\/\/sommselect.com\/products\/2021-antoine-graillot-raul-perez-bierzo-tinto-encinas-la-rata","provider":"SommSelect","version":"1.0","type":"link"}