Castell d'Encus
Raül Bobet, the former technical director of Torres, carefully selected an area in the Pyrenees, not far south of Andorra, as insurance against climate change. His 23ha of tightly planted vineyards lie between 800-1000m above sea level and have good sun exposure coupled with large changes in diurnal temperature, which preserves acidity and aromatics. The fruit from this exceptional site has been treated with great skill and meticulous care in the winery to produce white wines of crystalline purity and equally fine reds. Ekam, which means unity in Sanskrit, is composed of Riesling. It is an intense, tightly structured and powerful wine that was chosen as “wine of the week” by Jancis Robinson last year. Taleia is a superbly poised, mineral Sauvignon/Semillon blend with notes of pineapple and stone fruit framed by subtle oak. The Susterris wines offer excellent quality and characteristic cool climate elegance and aromatics. Batches of wine are fermented in stone vats cut into the rock many years ago by monks and the wines are bottled unfiltered to preserve flavour. These wines are the product of perfectionism and vision and should not be missed.
Visit the producer's website: http://www.encus.org/
Read Jancis Robinson's "Wine of the week review" here
Currently available:
2010 Ekam
2009 Taleia
2008 Quest (87% Cabernet Sauvignon plus Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot)
"Rich, smooth black fruit spice and minerals, complex, balanced and very individual. Drink 2012-2018"
Steven Spurrier, Spurrier's World, Decanter, Sept 2011
"Never has a Bordeaux blend from Spain been so good. An incredible nose of blackcurrant, with a touch of jasmine, liquorice, black pepper, sweet spice from the oak and an incredible, pencil-lead minerality. The palate follows with intense, black-forest fruit, more minerality and good, ripe tannin structure"
Mixed case, Imbibe, July/Aug 2011
2008 Susterris Negre
"Catalan blend of Bordeaux varieties with a perceptible hint of Syrah that leaps out of the glass with its ripe, fresh, direct appeal. 14.5%"
Jancis Robinson, 100 sure-fire reds, 4/12/2010
2010 Susterris Blanc
Ancient fermentation vats hand hewn from solid rock.
