Can Rufols del Caus - ‘Terraprima’ Negre - Massif del Garraf, Penedes, Spain (2024)

TASTING NOTES

Red and black berry aromas with hints of aromatic herbs. Complex and concentrated, this wine shows its barrel ageing. Expressing the chalky minerality of this unique terroir, this wine is refreshing with a long finish.

In 1979, Carlos Esteva began reworking his grandfather's 17th century estate on the stony, rugged landscape of the Garraf Massif along Spain's Mediterranean coast just south of Barcelona.

The land is rocky and inhospitable, yet is somehow home to a wide range of unique microclimates Carlos has leveraged to plant over 28 grape varieties. With soils infused with decomposed dolomitic limestone with elements of ancient stones and fossils, the Can Rafols estate gets plenty of warmth and sunshine as well as afternoon winds that temper the heat and humidity of summer.

Carlos’ arrival in the Garraf was nothing short of a revolution. Not only did he undertake the daunting task of restoring the noble but derelict masia (a traditional Catalan farmhouse), he also regenerated the farming of the vineyards, introducing new varieties and methods of cultivation, making a decisive bet on quality wines of unparalleled character that would give a fresh identity to his estate winery.

Grapes are delicately harvested and brought to a state-of-the-art processing facility where they are fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in a mixture of stainless steel, French oak and chestnut. 

Now under the stewardship of the next generation, Jordi continues Carlos' legacy of exquisite winemaking and only releasing wines when perfectly ready to drink - which often means additional ageing after bottling.

The Terraprima range embodies the flavour of rescued land. Sourced from Mas Sunyer in the Massis del Garraf, these vines were once threatened by the proposed construction of a cement factory. Carlos preserved this heritage by acquiring the land and saving these old vines from destruction thus preventing the construction of the quarry.