2021 Suertes del Marqués, “Medianías” Listán Negro
The Canary Islands continue to be the frontier for some of the most soul-stirring, "volcanic" wines on the planet, and Suertes del Marqués sits at the absolute pinnacle of this movement. Located in the Valle de la Orotava on the island of Tenerife, this estate works with incredibly old, ungrafted vines—some over a century old—trained in the unique cordón trenzado (braided) system. The "Medianías" bottling is a masterclass in terroir-driven winemaking, sourced from mid-elevation vineyards where the Atlantic’s cooling trade winds meet the intense heat of the sun. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged in neutral French oak, it represents the perfect intersection of raw, prehistoric landscape and refined, modern viticulture.
For collectors and enthusiasts of Cru Beaujolais or Northern Rhône Syrah, the Medianías offers a familiar elegance but with a wild, saline edge that could only come from Tenerife. It captures the smoky, reductive charm of Listán Negro, delivering a profile that is both ethereal and profoundly savory. On the palate, it bursts with tart wild raspberries, cracked black peppercorns, and an unmistakable streak of volcanic ash and flint. This is a high-toned, energetic red that balances its crunchy red fruit with a lingering, salty minerality and fine-grained tannins.