Robert Parker: 94

James Suckling: 91

Hudin: 92

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

12 Raul

Raul

Castell d’Encus Raul Priorat Ferrer Bobet

Costers del Segre DOP

Syrah

12

(Robert Parker’s rating: 94 points)
2018 Thalarn Syrah 2003 850 1,000 13.23%20201 9,900 100

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.

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:
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.