El Rocallís 2009

Can Rafols dels Caus is the name of the estate in Avinyonet del Penedès belonging to Carlos Esteva.  Set in a farmhouse dating from 1630, it is one of the most distinctive, bold and individualistic bodegas in Spain, like the personality of its owner, Carlos Esteva.  He was one of the first wine producers in Spain to use the trellis system in the vineyards and to use organic matter to fertilize the soil, rejecting the use of insecticides, and only using pesticides when absolutely necessary.  His philosophy can be summed up by four concepts: terroir, experience, patience and art.

This winery also pioneered the introduction of a raft of foreign grape varieties, growing in small parcels on fine, dry calcareous soil.

Appearance

Very deep, golden yellow.

Nose

Pleasing complexity with noble reduction aromas coming through first.  Fleshy fruit wrapped in toasty and light hydrocarbon aromas. Dried flowers and honeyed notes.

Palate

Big and full of flavour.  Complex nuances and a long-lingering finish of ripe fruit and elegant toasty oak aromas. 

Comment

Produced from the grape variety of Italian origin, Incrocio Manzoni, a cross between the Riesling from the Rhine and the Pinot Blanc, adapted to a stony vineyard planted in 1988 on the rocky Garraf Massif.  Its production is unique in that it is fermented in open barrels, is aged for 4 months in French oak barrels and is rounded out through a long, 38 month ageing period in bottle, before being released to the market.

With its tremendous personality, this limited production 2009 leaves no one indifferent.  This is a unique, original white with complex aromas.  A wine which is full of nuances and very pervasive on the palate. Bravo!

Recommended with oven-baked wild turbot with cuttlefish, and both fennel and sea fennel.

Glass by RIEDEL, GRAPE collection, CHIANTI/RIESLING model.