Robert Parker: 93

James Suckling: 93

Tim Atkin: 92

Hudin: 92

() Taleia “The Sound of Silence”,

Castell d’Encus Costers del Segre Torres Raul Bobet 1,000 Talarn

12 Raul

Raul Taleia (obsession)

Castell d’Encus Raul Priorat Ferrer Bobet

Taleia

Costers del Segre DOP

12.65%

Sauvignon BlancSemillon

6

(Robert Parker’s rating: 93 points)
2020 2020 Taleia 2019 2019 2020 Taleia (Bone Dry) Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc 2003 Semillon 12.65%pH 3.0 6.5 202111 9,700 100 (1.5)

Castell d’Encus is one of Spains 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.

Bobets approach is deeply philosophical and sustainable. The wines are crafted with minimal interventionno chemicals, low sulfurand 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. Taleia, means obsession in Catalan, a fitting tribute to Bobets relentless pursuit of purity and precision.

While the ancient process is remarkable, its the results that truly matter: wines of clarity, complexity, and emotional resonance. Bobets 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:
White/Blanc (Still)

Grape Varieties:
Sauvignon BlancSemillon

ABV:
12.65%

Vinification
Fermented with indigenous yeasts, part in new oak barrels and the rest in small stainless steel vats and stone pools, where it matured with the lees for some six months.

Tasting Notes:
(Robert Parker’s rating: 93 points)
2020 was a cooler year that allowed them to produce wines in the style they want to do, like the 2020 Taleia, which has lower alcohol and more acidity than the 2019, a warmer vintage that I tasted next to this. It’s very young, clean, subtle and a little shy but with crystalline purity and focus, a sharp mouthfeel and a bone-dry finish. The inspiration here is the whites from Sancerre; this is made with a majority of Sauvignon Blanc with some Semillon from vines planted in 2003, but the character of the Sauvignon Blanc is quite subtle. It has 12.65% alcohol and a pH of 3.0 with 6.5 grams of acidity. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, part in new oak barrels and the rest in small stainless steel vats and stone pools, where it matured with the lees for some six months. 9,700 bottles and 100 magnums were filled in November 2021.

Music to go with:

Erik Satie -Gymnopdie No. 1