Winemaker Notes
Suertes del Marques refers to this as their "village wine" and it’s a good introduction to their reds. It comes from a blend of several plots, all on volcanic soils, and its main component is the wildly aromatic Listán Negro, followed by a small amount of Tintilla (aka Trousseau). A juicy and refreshing wine that showcases the vivid aromas and flavors of Listán Negro.
Blend: 90% Listan Negro, 10% Castellana Negra
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The village red from La Orotava 2020 7 Fuentes was produced with Listán Negro and 5% Castellana Negra from up to 25 different vineyards, mostly from the center and east of the valley where the grapes are mostly red, with vines ranging between 10 and 200 years old at altitudes of 300 to 700 meters on different soils, all volcanic but with more or less clay, silt and sand. It fermented with 10% full clusters in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured for eight months, 70% in concrete and 30% of the volume in used 500-liter oak barrels, then it was blended and kept in stainless steel until bottling. It has moderate alcohol, 12.65%, and mellow acidity. 2020 was a warm year with a very early harvest and good yields after a small crop in 2019. This is herbal and a little reductive, with a polished palate and fine tannins.
The Canary Islands are the southernmost Northern Hemisphere wine region. Because of such a dry climate, grape vines grown on the island are coiled in small craters in the volcanic soil which shelter them from the strong, sun-baked winds. This is the perfect climate for Listan Negro, which is vinified in several styles, from delicate, food-friendly rosés to light and fruity reds made by carbonic maceration (the technique used to make Beaujolais Nouveau), to traditionally-vinified reds aged in oak.
Set of islands off the coast of Morocco and south of Madeira that host a wide range of indigenous and unique grape varieties. Soils are volcanic and recent subsidies from the local government has led to a revival of the islands’ old vines.