Atlante 2019 Listan Negro, Valle de la Orotava DO (Tenerife)

Item Number: 19616

UPC: 0-798190105918

Country: Spain
Region: Canary Islands
Sub Region: Tenerife
Appellation/AVA: Valle de la Orotava DO
Estate Grown Wine: No
Vineyard Designation: La Quinta
Vintage: 2019
Grape(s): 100% Listan Negro
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 6
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 13.5
Soil Type: Volcanic
Elevation: 400 meters

Tasting Notes: The Atlante’s Listán Negro showcases its relatively cool microclimate of origin, with a fresh, lifted palate saturated with red fruits, cracked black pepper, and a cupboard’s worth of spices. It is rustic and bloody, where you’re able to taste the iron. Ideally paired with an acidic marinated skirt steak or on the porch after a rainstorm.

Terroir Notes: The Canary Islands might be the most up and coming wine region you have never heard of, even though winemaking is not new to the island. The island’s location in the Atlantic Ocean, being heavily affected by the ocean breeze, creates a diverse selection of microclimates that allows for a vast collection of grape varieties to be grown. On top of that, the land is covered in volcanic soil which adds a unique character to the wines. Finally, because the Canary Islands are mostly untouched by the mass-producing world, the winemakers have a deep bond and appreciation for their land, such that you’re able to taste the love put into the craft.

Vineyard Notes: Atlante’s pure Listán Negro bottling comes from a vineyard known as La Quinta, situated at 400 meters altitude in the Valle de la Orotava; this is the family’s longest-held parcel, and the winery sits right in the middle of it. The vines are over 150 years old—ungrafted, of course, and trained in the traditional braid-like cordon trenzado method.

Harvest Notes: Bunches are brought promptly to the winery, where a portion are left whole-cluster and a portion are foot trodden in traditional shallow cement vessels. Fermentation proceeds spontaneously, lasting for eight to ten days—a relatively quick fermentation facilitated by the large surface area of the horizontal vats—and after being pressed in a small vertical wooden basket press, the wine ages 12 months in used 600-liter French oak barrels.