Can Rafols dels Caus
VISIT THIS PRODUCER'S WEBSITE
LOCATE ON GOOGLE MAPS
VISIT IMPORTER'S WEBSITE
Country of Origin: Spain
Location: Massís del Garraf
People: Julia Esteva and family, Owners | Jordi Esteve, Director
Items
Can Ràfols dels Caus was founded in the Massis del Garraf subregion of the Penedes in 1979 by Carlos Esteva when he decided to rehabilitate an ancient estate that had been originally purchased by his grandfather and left abandoned. His interest was initially in restoring the centuries-old masia (Catalan farmhouse) but he was quickly entranced by the many plots of old vines scattered around the property and in addition to his original goal of restoring the farmhouse, he decided that he would also make great wines from the estate of Can Ràfols dels Caus. Lucky for us he succeeded and we now have the pleasure of offering these wines to the Illinois market.
In a region dominated by Cava, Carlos Esteva is now regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of fine still wines in the Penedes, and he was even involved in the creation of the Penedes DO. As the son of an aristocratic family, he could have chosen a more leisurely life, but everyone who knew him said he was ambitious, hard working, energetic, inventive, and above all, committed to showing the potential of the Penedes, and especially the Massis del Garraf, for making some of the world's finest wines. He worked hand in hand with everyone else in the vineyard and winery, and no task was too big or small or difficult for him to have a hand in.
Can Ràfols dels Caus sits at about 300 meters above sea level in the Massis del Garraf, the forested subregion of the Penedes that sits within and adjacent to the Parc del Garraf nature preserve and along the Sierra de l'Ordal mountain range. The plots are small, ranging in size from 0.15ha to 2ha and scattered throughout the dense forests, often on steep slopes. The soils in the Massis del Garaf are known for being very high in calcium carbonate and lower in clay than the majority of the Penedes. They are rich in the marine fossils that exist as the result of the area being covered by the sea in prehistoric times.
Can Ràfols dels Caus has been committed to quality and sustainability since their founding. The winery and vineyards have been certified organic since the 2013 vintage and only estate grapes are used in the wines. Grapes are always harvested by hand. The vineyards, fragmented into small plots, occupy around 90 hectares of land (of the 450ha estate) where 28 different varietals are grown. Carlos Esteva put his effort into highlighting the value of native varieties, Xarel·lo, Macabeu, and Sumoll, with some plots planted in 1934. These strains coexist with other varieties that have adapted perfectly to the Garraf Massif, such as Chenin Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Incrocio Manzoni.
In the winery, the commitment to quality and respect for the final wines continues. Each small plot is fermented separately and spontaneously with the indigenous yeasts. Grapes are very slowly whole-bunch pressed to avoid oxidation. When oak is used, they prefer chestnut to oak barrels as those are native to the region.
In 2016 they opened the doors to their new winery, which had been in construction for 16 years. It is completely underground to protect the landscape and is set up so the wine can always be moved by gravity. It looks like something out of a James Bond movie, with the native Massis rock exposed and heavily featured instead of being covered over. The scale of the project shows their commitment to the future and their expectation that Can Rafols dels Caus will continue to honor the legacy and intentions of Carlos Esteva for years to come.
Sadly, Carlos passed away in 2023 after several years of health issues. Today the estate is run by Director Jordi Esteve, a trusted family friend who worked alongside Carlos for several years before his death, along with Julia Esteva, Carlos' youngest daughter. Their small team, including enologist David Mañas, makes decisions rooted in Carlos' vision of making some of the world's great wines at Can Rafols dels Caus.