Quest 2018
Close to 900 meters and 900 years are the reason behind this great red wine
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Quest 2018 is the result of a coupage of four varieties: cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and merlot, which come from vineyards planted at an altitude of 900 meters in the municipality of Talarn, in the Pyrenees of Lleida. For its production, alcoholic fermentation was carried out in 12th-century stone vats using the grape's own natural yeasts. All these factors create a wine with aromas of fresh fruit and fine notes of spices such as pepper and vanilla, among others.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
Type of barrel
Oak barrels
Type of bottle
Burgundy Bottle
Barrel aging time
17 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Alcohol content (% vol.)
13.9
General Information
Quest 2018 is a prodigious red wine crafted by Castell d´Encús, a coupage of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and petit verdot varieties sourced from the estate's vineyards located in Talarn. These vineyards are cultivated on loamy-calcareous soils situated at an altitude of 900 meters. After 17 months of aging, this wine will fully develop its complexity in the bottle, achieving that silky yet vibrant red wine.
Castell d´Encús was founded in 2001 by the winemaker Raül Bobet. It is a personal project whose philosophy focuses on the utmost care of the vineyard, with passion, dedication, and respect for the environment. Castell d´Encús is considered one of the wineries that produces wines at the highest altitude in all of Spain. It has an estate of 95 hectares, of which 23 are planted at high density with diverse varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, pinot noir, syrah, petit verdot, sauvignon blanc, riesling, semillon, and albariño.
This exceptional red wine is produced under the D.O. Costers del Segre. It is entirely fermented in stone vats carved by Hospitaller monks in the 12th century. After its malolactic fermentation in barrels, it undergoes aging for 17 months in oak. With excellent final aging, Quest 2018 pairs ideally with pasta with meat sauce, meat-based rice dishes, grilled lamb, oily fish, and red meat with sauce.
Tasting notes
Cherry red color.
Medium-high intensity on the nose, dominated by notes of tobacco, blackberry, and quite spicy (black tea, pepper).
On the palate, it has a silky and elegant entry, notes of fresh fruit with slight hints of vanilla, with fine tannins and very long. Intense aftertaste with marked acidity.
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.