As Covas 2018

There is not a lot of Pinot Noir in the Rías Baixas zone. In fact, the only one I know is the 2018 As Covas Pinot Noir, produced with grapes from 10-year-old vines planted on granite soils. It fermented with 50% full clusters in open-top oak barrels and matured in used barriques for one year. This is the palest of all the reds, and it has an herbal and balsamic twist in the varietal and spicy nose. It is more like the other reds from the zone than Pinots from elsewhere. This is a collaboration with Raúl Pérez, who is the one in charge of enology here. The palate is medium-bodied and has fine tannins, perhaps a little thin in the mid-palate. Only 500 bottles were filled in March 2020. This is obviously sold without appellation of origin; Pinot Noir is not one of the grapes allowed by Rías Baixas. This wine will change in 2019, with a little more maceration and color.