Can Rafols Caus Lubis 2006

Can Ràfols dels Caus is one of the most unique, revolutionary, and charismatic wineries in Catalonia and throughout Southern Europe. Located in the municipality of Avinyonet del Penedès (Barcelona), the estate is a benchmark for organic viticulture and the expression of the calcareous terroir. The heart and soul of the winery was Carlos Esteva (1950-2023), a visionary, nonconformist winemaker and art lover who, in 1979, decided to move to the Roman-era farmhouse that his grandfather Jacinto had acquired in 1930.

This cult red wine is made entirely from Merlot grapes in the Penedès D.O. It is considered one of the most prestigious and unique single-varietal Merlots in Spain. Carlos Esteva, a great enthusiast of Bordeaux wines (especially Pomerol), pioneered the planting of this French variety in the limestone soils of the Garraf Massif in the early 1980s. It comes from a single, carefully selected plot, laid out on four north-facing terraces. The grape yield is extremely low to concentrate the essence of the terroir. After spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, it undergoes malolactic fermentation and is aged for 12 to 18 months in French oak barrels. What is truly remarkable is that the winery further refines it in the bottle for over 15 years in its underground cellars before releasing it to the market, only marketing it when it has reached its full potential.