R. Parker (95/100)
The other new red this time is the 2015 El Pliegue, a wine from a field blend planted in 2001 with Bastardo, Mencía, Carabuñenta and Brancellao and later complemented with some Caíño Longo, the more aromatic, floral and elegant variety from the Caíño family. Given the experience from the 2011 Campo de Probas, which was from this same vineyard, he adjusted the harvesting date—he picked earlier, with a full 1% less alcohol—and he also adjusted the vinification, fermenting all the varieties together with 50% full clusters and maturing the wine in a 2,400-liter oak foudre. It has a lovely rusticity, with more finesse than the 2011, more transparent and pure, mixing earthy and floral notes. It has a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and lots of energy, characterful, with a strong personality. The next vintage from this plot will be 2019. This is evolving very slowly and feels very young. There are 2,505 bottles. It was bottled in May 2018.