2021 Castell D'encus 'Ekam' White Blend Catalunya

Winemaker Notes:  Located at possibly the highest vineyard sites in Catalonia with elevations of up to 3280 ft, winemaker Raül Bobet settled on this location in the Pyrenees mountains in 2001 in hopes of minimizing the effects of climate change. While the estate boasts 95 hectares of property, only 23 are planted to vine. The remainder of the estate consists of dense woods, creating a polyculture that benefits both the vineyards and the bioculture as a whole. An unusual blend of Riesling and Albariño, ‘Ekam’ is bursting with life. Aromas of lemon zest, green pear, almond blossom and honey welcome on the nose, followed by flavors of dried apricot, lychee, ripe grapefruit and a kiss of saline on the palate. Richly textured with crisp acidity, this is a wine that changes in the glass and impresses with each sip.

85% Riesling, 15% Albarino.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "2019 was a warmer year, and the 2019 Ekam is a little riper and has lower acidity but still has 6.3 grams of sugar, which makes it off-dry and not apt for all foods. It's mostly Riesling that softened by a touch of Albariño, and it fermented in stainless steel and was kept with the lees for six months. It reminds me of the little-known category of German wine called feinherb, where the wines are delicate and have a touch of sugar, a little more than a trocken. It's more gentle, more open and less sweet than the 2018. There is great purity and balance, and it's subtle, elegant and very clean. Drink this as you would drink a kabinett. Like most of these wines, it has the acidity, stuffing and balance to develop in bottle. I understood it much better than the 2018. 30,000 bottles and 300 magnums produced. It was bottled in March 2020."