Ekam Essència 2021
The style of German Rieslings in the heart of the Pyrenees
Ekam Essència 2021 is an impressive single-varietal Riesling made from noble rot of botrytized grapes. A magnificent white wine from Raül Bobet's project in the Catalan Pyrenees, with vineyards located at almost 1000 meters above sea level. All of this, combined with 36 months of bottle aging, results in a white wine that captivates, in the style of German Rieslings. With a limited production of 1524 bottles, Ekam Essència demonstrates its tremendous quality year after year, supported by accolades such as the 94 Parker points awarded to its 2015 vintage.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
General Information
Ekam Essència 2021 is a unique white wine crafted by Castell d´Encús winery under the guidance of its winemaker, Raül Bobet. Unique and full of nuances, this wine is made from botrytized riesling grapes (injected with a fungus that removes water from the grape, leaving a high percentage of sugar, fruit acids, and minerals) sourced from vineyards located between 850 and 1000 meters in altitude.
Castell d´Encús is a personal project of Raül Bobet, founded in 2001. Its working philosophy focuses on vineyard care with passion, dedication, and respect for the environment. It is located in the Pyrenean area of Pallars Jussà in Lleida and is one of the wineries producing wines at the highest altitudes in Spain. Its vineyards are planted on loamy-calcareous soils that, combined with a climate with significant temperature contrasts, provide high-quality grapes.
This unique white wine from the D.O. Costers del Segre is hand-harvested in small 10 kg boxes of grapes sourced exclusively from the winery. Traditional vinification takes place in 6 hl wooden vats at low temperatures. Perfected for 36 months in the bottle before release, Ekam Essència 2021 is a fantastic limited-production white wine that pairs ideally with foie mi-cuit and brothy rice dishes.
Tasting notes
Ekam Essència displays a light olive green color, clean and bright.
Nose with a certain complexity, dominated by aromas of mineral notes, citrus, and hints of hydrocarbons.
On the palate, it stands out for being a very glyceric wine, with countless nuances typical of cold-climate and late-harvest Rieslings, with very good acidity and a long aftertaste.
The winery
Winery
Castell d´Encus was founded in 2001 by Raül Bobet, who sought land in the Catalan Pyrenees to mitigate the effects of climate change on vineyards. It is located in the Pallars Jussà area (Lleida), a predominantly mountainous region.
The altitude of the estate, situated in a mountainous area of the Pallars Jussà region (Lleida), reaches up to 1000 meters above sea level in some parts. It is a location with good sun exposure and surrounded by significant forested areas. Nearby, there is also a historic site consisting of a chapel and ancient grape fermentation presses carved into the stone by the Hospitaller monks in the 12th century.
Out of the 95 hectares of the estate, 23 are planted at high density with a variety of grapes, including cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, pinot noir, syrah, petit verdot, sauvignon blanc, riesling, semillon, and albariño. The rest is preserved as forest.
With a philosophy committed to respecting the environment, no herbicides, insecticides, or chemical products are used, except those permitted in organic farming. Castell d´Encús is also the first winery to use geothermal energy for heat-cold transfer in all its processes, designed to operate by gravity.
Finally, it is worth noting that the harvest is carried out manually in small 10 kg boxes, with grapes sourced exclusively from the estate. Subsequently, the musts are fermented in various materials, such as wooden vats, stainless steel tanks, and natural stone presses.