Suertes del Marqués Los Pasitos 2022

Suertes del Marqués works in the D.O. Valle de la Orotava on Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, and Los Pasitos comes exclusively from the vineyard of the same name. The grape is Baboso Negro, a dark, structured and naturally tannic variety, trained on the simple Cordón Royat system and hand picked into small 16 kilo boxes. The volcanic soils here are sandy and free draining, ungrafted because phylloxera never reached the island, and the altitude and Atlantic air give a wide diurnal range that locks in acidity and aromatic detail. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts in open tanks, a hands off approach that lets site and vintage speak. The wine then ages fourteen months in French oak barrels, which rounds the firm tannins and adds gentle spice while the smoky volcanic character holds. Expect a deep ruby colour, a nose of blackberry, dark cherry, black pepper and a smoky mineral note, and a full, structured palate with firm but ripe tannins and a long, savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant young examples. It suits grilled and roasted red meats and game.