Michael Stickings

Finca El Encinal Crianza 2010, Do Ribera Del Duero

At times this strange RDD is deep and rich and dominated by alluring dark fruit flavours of fig and plum, whereas at others it's like drinking sour cherry juice, and while that rich/sour combination comes across as a contradiction, surprising wisps of earth, leather, bretty funk, red berries, and even asparagus, along with a heavy oak structure, provide sufficient complexity to keep it interesting. It doesn't quite hold together, not least on the dry-sour finish, but this is still solid value for a wine that while not regionally distinct is at least curious enough to admire.