SuertesdelMarqués‘LasSuertes’2020

<p>Leading Tenerife’s vinous renaissance for the past two decades, Suertes del Marqués is crafting some of Spain’s most exciting wines today.</p><p>Buying up vineyards and selling most of his crop to local domaines in 1986, Francisco García Lima only started producing wine commercially from 2006. As he introduced organic, low-interventionist philosophies and his son Jonatan took over the 9ha estate in 2016, Suertes del Marqués has become ground zero for a new wave of Tenerife fine wine.</p><p>Jonatan farms 9ha of indigenous old-vine varieties – some more than 200 years old – on volcanic clay and sand soils in the steep Orotova Valley, an appellation where cloud cover moderates temperatures by some 10°C compared to the rest of the island. Trained with a rare technique called cordón trenzado, the long vine canes are painstakingly tied back to their sinewy roots after pruning, then propped off the floor with poles.</p><p>Production is split 25% between white wine made from Listán Blanco (Palomino) – unlike that grown in Sherry country, here it has mouth-watering acidity and a signature smokiness – and 75% red made from Listán Negro and Tintilla (Garnacha). Fresh and peppery with round, supple tannins, they resonate with a volcanic mineral backbone.</p><p>A north-facing plot on rocky volcanic soil at 450-550m elevation. Planted in 1930s and 1950s. 14 months in neutral oak. Pure, whole-bunch fruit with smoky-herbal nuances and gorgeous interplay between freshness and depth.</p><p>Sourced from the north-facing 0.75ha ‘El Ciruelo’ vineyard at 500-550m, ‘Las Suertes’ is aged for 12 months in 500l French barrels. Fresh and finessed – ripe red fruit layered with earth and spicy minerals. Fruit from 100-year-old vines adding depth and elegance. Listán Negro at its finest.</p>