⭐Robert Parker: 94
⭐James Suckling: 91
⭐Hudin: 92
Castell d'Encus 位於西班牙加泰隆尼亞庇利牛斯山脈的 Costers del Segre 產區，由前 Torres 酒莊首席釀酒師 Raul Bobet 創立。他希望在全球暖化下仍能釀出心中理想的葡萄酒，於是選址海拔 1,000 米的 Talarn 村，展開釀酒計劃。
酒莊旁的古老修道院仍保留 12 世紀僧侶手鑿石窖，Raul 受此啟發，還原古法釀酒，將部分葡萄於石窖發酵，再轉至不鏽鋼或橡木桶陳年。他憑工程背景設計地熱能源系統，推動酒莊運作，實踐可持續理念。
Raul 喜愛哲學和冥想，酒款多以梵文或葡萄生長地命名。他的釀酒理念簡單卻深刻：
「我們希望釀造出風格非常清晰的葡萄酒，以新鮮度為支柱，避免過度成熟與萃取。 我們追求優雅和含蓄，但又不放棄葡萄酒的複雜性和圓潤感。」
為實現這理想，於葡萄種植和釀造過程等細節上，必須花上無比的心思和管理能力。幕後亦有著熟練的專業團隊協助，才能在不可預料的天氣下，仍能釀出令人感動的佳釀。
Castell d'Encus 毫無疑問是近年最令人振奮的西班牙酒莊。而 Raul 亦是 Priorat 名莊 Ferrer Bobet 的創辦人之一，持續在高山地帶探索葡萄酒的極致可能。
此酒未經過濾，可能出現天然沉澱物，亦未添加或少量添加二氧化硫，建議存放於清涼環境。
產區保護條例：
Costers del Segre DOP
產地：
西班牙加泰隆尼亞
種類：
紅葡萄酒
葡萄品種：
Syrah
釀造：
人手採收，在不銹鋼缸、橡木桶和古老的石窖中用野生酵母發酵，之後在新的法國橡木桶中陳年12個月，然後在更大的橡木桶中陳釀三個月，再於瓶中陳年三年。
品酒筆記：
(Robert Parker's rating: 94 points)
2018 Thalarn 以它來自的村莊命名，Syrah 於 2003 年種植於海拔 850 至 1,000 米、富含石灰岩的土壤上。它芳香、多汁、有煙燻味，成熟度適中，酒精度 13.23%，新鮮感和平衡度都很好。不管人們怎麼想，這款酒並沒有橡木味；橡木巧妙地融合於果香中。它緩慢地演化，需要些時間才散發出成熟漿果和灌木叢的香氣。口感強勁而平衡，單寧豐富細膩，餘韻乾爽悠長。2020年1月入樽，限量 9,900 瓶和 100 大瓶。
Castell d'Encus is one of Spain’s most exciting and visionary wine estates, founded by Raul Bobet, former head winemaker at the iconic Torres winery. In 2001, driven by a desire to craft wines less affected by climate change, Bobet discovered the remote village of Talarn, perched 1,000 meters high in the Pyrenees subzone of the Costers del Segre appellation.
This dramatic altitude brings intense diurnal temperature shifts, lending purity, freshness, and elegance to the wines. But what truly sets Castell d'Encus apart is its revival of ancient winemaking methods: the estate features 12th-century hand-carved stone lagars, once used by monks, now restored and repurposed for natural fermentation. Today, most of the wines begin their journey in these historic vats before aging in stainless steel or oak.
Bobet’s approach is deeply philosophical and sustainable. The wines are crafted with minimal intervention—no chemicals, low sulfur—and the entire estate is powered by geothermal energy. Many of the wines are named in Sanskrit or after the vineyards where the grapes are grown, reflecting a meditative and site-driven ethos.
While the ancient process is remarkable, it’s the results that truly matter: wines of clarity, complexity, and emotional resonance. Bobet’s work at Castell d'Encus is complemented by his role at Ferrer Bobet in Priorat, a joint venture with entrepreneur and wine lover Sergi Ferrer-Salat, where he continues to explore the potential of mountain viticulture.
Appellation:
Costers del Segre DOP
Country of Origin:
Catalonia, Spain
Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)
Grape Variety:
Syrah
Vinification:
Fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel, oak vats and ancient outdoor stone pools and matured in new French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by a further three months in larger oak vats and then was kept in bottle for some three years.
Tasting Notes:
(Robert Parker's rating: 94 points)
The 2018 Thalarn is named after the village it comes from, where the Syrah vines were planted in 2003 on limestone rich soils at 850 to 1,000 meters in altitude. It's aromatic, juicy, smoky and varietal, with moderate ripeness at 13.23% alcohol and good freshness and balance. Despite what one might think, the wine is not oaky; the oak is neatly integrated and folded into the fruit. It's evolving slowly and takes time to unfurl the aromas of ripe berries and underbrush. It's powerful but balanced, with abundant, fine-grained tannins and a dry, long finish. 9,900 bottles and 100 magnums were filled in January 2020.
