2023 Envinate 'Taganan' Tinto

Aromas of wild strawberry, pomegranate, and cracked black pepper integrate with savory notes of volcanic ash, smoke, and dried hibiscus. The palate is light to medium-bodied and electric, featuring a core of tart red fruit and a distinctive salty crunch. It displays fine, wiry tannins and a vertical acidity that leads to a long finish marked by a persistent mineral tension and a wild, brambly lift.

The Envínate team, consisting of Roberto Santana, Alfonso Torrente, Laura Ramos, and José Martínez, utilizes a complex field blend of dozens of indigenous varieties, including Negramoll, Listán Negro, and Espadeiro. The fruit is hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts in small open-top vats, typically using a high proportion of whole clusters. The wine matures for several months in neutral French oak barrels without racking or sulfur additions until bottling, a process that preserves the raw, energetic character of the extreme site.

The fruit is grown on the rugged northeastern tip of Tenerife in the Taganán region. The site is defined by its ancient, steep volcanic cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, where the vines are between 50 and 100 years old and planted on their own roots. These vineyards are cooled by the humid Alisios trade winds and sit on primary volcanic soils. This dramatic, maritime environment creates a wine that is a direct reflection of its wild surroundings, offering a profile that is both intensely savory and incredibly fresh.