Castell d'Encús - Acusp 2019

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The bright red colored 2019 Acusp transported me to the aromas of some Pinot Noirs from Chile. It was named after the hill where the grapes come from, a vineyard planted in 2003 at high density at 1,000 meters in altitude. Part of the grapes fermented in the 12th-century stone pools (lagares) on the property and the rest in stainless steel, all with indigenous yeasts. It went through malolactic in oak barrel, where it was kept for 12 months. It has 13.21% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.9 grams of acidity. It's soft and gentle, with red berry fruit and a creamy quality to it. The palate is more austere and strict, with a dry mouthfeel and abundant, fine-grained and chalky tannins. It's medium-bodied, with the great purity that is the house style. 8,500 bottles and 150 magnums produced. It was bottled in November 2020.

Castell d'Encús is the personal project of winemaker Raül Bobet in the Costers del Segre appellation. He planted new vineyards at high altitude—over 1,000 meters above sea level—and hence in a fresher zone, and those are coming into production starting with the 2020 vintage. He now works 22 hectares of vineyards that are over 15 years old and a further six hectares from the younger plantings, all in the village of Talarn. He produces 90,000 bottles of very high quality wines.