Bien de Altura Agan 2022

Bien de Altura Agan comes from a vineyard more than 90 years old above 1,100 metres at San Mateo, in the northwest of Gran Canaria, worked by Carmelo Peña after a winemaking career that took him to Portugal and Chile. The blend is led by Listán Negro with Listán Prieto, Tinta Cão and a little white fruit. The volcanic soils, high altitude and cool Atlantic air give a wide diurnal range that keeps acidity fresh and lends a mineral, smoky character. Here the wine is vinified and held in stainless steel for around nine months rather than oak, which preserves the pure, primary fruit and the light, fresh frame. The wine is organic. Co fermenting old field varieties keeps the style aromatic and easy. The colour is bright, youthful ruby. The nose shows fresh strawberry and cherry over dried herbs and pepper, and the palate is light bodied and lively, with crisp acidity, gentle tannin and an earthy, volcanic finish. Serve lightly cool at 14 to 16 degrees in a standard glass. It is an everyday red that can stand in for a white at the table.