Suertes del Marqués Cruz Santa 2021

Suertes del Marqués Cruz Santa is a red from the D.O. Valle de la Orotava in Tenerife, made from the native Vijariego Negro grape by a family winery founded in 2006 to champion local varieties with minimal intervention. The Orotava Valley runs down the volcanic north of the island, and the soils are central to the wine, the free draining basalt and volcanic ash giving low vigour, a saline minerality and the smoky, ashy character that marks these wines. The Atlantic influence and altitude keep conditions cool, holding alcohol at 12.5 percent and preserving acidity. Vijariego Negro adapts well to this volcanic ground, giving a structured but light wine with firm freshness. Cruz Santa ages 22 months in oak, a long élevage that softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds a savoury depth without burying the herbal fruit. The colour is medium ruby. The nose is savoury and herbal, with red cherry, moss, thyme and a note of ash and smoke. The palate is fresh and finely structured, the volcanic minerality giving a saline lift, finishing long on earth and pepper. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees. Good with roast pork and grilled mushrooms.