A thirst for experimentation, perfectionism and just a touch of folly are the qualities that are associated with Castell d’Encùs. The vines grow in the Pallars Jussà region of the Spanish Pyrenees, a mountainous zone that rises to an altitude of 1300 metres. They benefit from a south-westerly orientation, good sunshine exposure and protection from the northerly winds. Surrounded by swathes of woodland, and marked by the history of the Hospitalier monks who, in the 12th century, carved deep cavities out of the rock in which they fermented wine, this secluded spot is truly a very special and magical place. The wines of Encùs sprang from a love affair that began in 2001 when Raül Bobet first discovered this amazing site. A visionary in search of excellence, with long years of experience in wine and a desire to experiment, he set out to make wine as close to nature as possible. The calcareous soils, poor in organic matter in coherence with to the continental climate, combined with wide thermal amplitude between day and night, produce elegant wines of immense quality. Of the 95 hectares of the property, 23 hectares are planted at high density with varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon and Albarino. The rest is untouched woodland. The grapes from the estate are picked by hand into small 10kg crates. They are fermented in oak barrels, or stainless steel, as well as in vats that have been hewn out of the stone. The use of these three materials allows Castell d’Encùs to produce wines of varied character and nuance, with great aromatic complexity. Where the winemaking is concerned, the focus is on the different types of natural fermentation that occur in the stone vats carved in the rock, that operate by gravity. In his work, Raoùl has also long sought to reduce and even eliminate the use of sulphur during barrel ageing. The cellar has been designed to use gravity for transferring wine into the barrels, and is equipped with technologically advanced winemaking installations. For Castell d’Encùs and Raoùl, the evolution of this winemaking project is never ending, and that is what creates the magic. At we are delighted to count them amongst our partners, and have the privilege of offering our customers a selection of their wines in exclusivity in Switzerland.
