Nicholas Pearce presents volcanic wines from the Canary Islands.
We are pleased to announce our new winter order for Bodegas Viñatigo is being finalized next week. Restaurant Sommeliers have been raving that the Bodegas Viñatigo wines are some of the most interesting and versatile wines to enter the market this year. Please find all the information below on the wines, the winery and the Canary Islands. This “Domaine Direct Private Order” will be scheduled for delivery in Mach 2017. We also have a few cases currently in stock if you have an immediate request.
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Bodegas Viñátigo ~ The Offer
Whites:
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2016 $21.95
Made from old vines at over 1,200 meters, this is a pure and fruity wine made in stainless steel and unbaked.
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2016 $27.95
Also known as Bual when used in making Madeira, the Gual is cold soaked then fermented at a very low temperature. Fermentation and aging (6 months) take place in old oak barrels. B right yellow. Dried pear, nectarine and Meyer lemon aromas are complemented by deeper suggestions of honey, chamomile and smoky lees. Pliant, expansive citrus and pit fruit flavors are sharpened by a gingery nuance and show very good energy. Sappy, penetrating and intensely floral on the finish, leaving a dusty mineral note behind.
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2015 $31.95
100% Marmajuelo, one of two grapes with no known parentage outside of the Canary Islands, either because it died on the mainland due to Phylloxera or because it is indigenous to the islands. Fermented in stainless steel and aged on the lees for about 3 months. This wine is peachy in color and would pair beautifully with grilled shrimp or lobster
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2016 $27.95
Also known as Diego, this grape does not exist anywhere else in the world. The vineyards are planted at over 1,400 meters lending the wine its acidity and purity. It is barrel fermented and aged 6 months in mostly used French oak.
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2014 $37.95
The Ensemblaje Blanco comes from the best vines of Juan’s ungrafted prephylloxera vineyards that are planted in volcanic soils on the steep hillsides of Tenerife. It is a blend of Gual, Marmajuelo, Vijariego Blanco and Malvasia Aromática.
Rose:
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2016 $21.95
100% Listán Negro made in the saignée method. Vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks. Tenerife’s volcanic soils impart beautiful concentration, with red fruit flavors, an undercurrent of smoke and a hint of bitterness on the finish.
Reds:
DOP Islas Canarias, 2015 $24.95
100% Listán Negro aged 3 months in used American and French Oak.
DOP Islas Canarias, 2013 $36.95
100% Vijariego Negro this aged 8 months in French oak – it posesses the smoky, saline and dark fruits with fine tannin that only the combination of the volcanic soils and Atlantic climate that are the hallmark of the Canary Islands.
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2013 $37.95
100% Tintilla aged 8 months in French Oak and dripping with flinty and smokey minerality that comes straight out of the Ignios rock they’re planted in. Vinatigo and Bodegas Monje are the two only vineyards in Tenerife that grow Tintilla.
DOP Islas Canarias, 2013 $55.95
100% Baboso. Aged for 12 month in French Allier Oak Barrels. Intense aromatics of black fruits, violets and crushed rocks. Full bodied and meaty and great structure.
Sweet:
Ycoden Daute Isora, Canary Islands, 2015 $42.95
One of the most exciting dessert wines from the Island. Exotic aromas of ripe tropical fruits and flowers with dried peach, bitter orange skin and apricot. Balanced and persistent with 65 gr./l and vibrant acidity.
*Private Order Offer * $10 Delivery Charge added to all orders * Price listed per bottle *6/btl cases unless otherwise noted.
BEST TASTING NOTE EVER (IN A GLASS):
The Canary Islands
Located just off the coast of Morocco this Spanish wine region has been producing wine since the 15th Century. This collection of Islands located in the Atlantic ocean offer 10 distinct regions and a multitude of growing conditions. In fact the Canaries hold the record for highest mountain in Spain and third highest volcano in the world, on the Island of Tenerife with the active volcano El Teide. The collection of islands are so remote that phylloxera has not reached them allowing vines to grow on their own rootstock. While the Canaries can boast spring like weather all year round each island has various microclimates but what they all share is the presence of mineral rich, volcanic soils resulting in very unique and fascinating flavour profiles
The Islands lying to the West are influenced by the Gulf Stream which brings a cold sea current providing a cooling effect to the area. The tradewinds have the most impact travelling around 25km/hr and operate on two levels, the lower trade winds arriving from the NE are cold and humid. The second level arriving from the south are hot and when these two winds meet they produce a collection of clouds above the Islands know as the sea of clouds. As for the more eastern Islands, they are more dry and considered to have semi- to desert like conditions. The sand storms from the Sahara reach these islands blanketing them in red sand. The most extreme climate is located on the most eastern island of Lanzarote with it’s harsh volcanic landscape. Lanzarote carries the youngest volcanic soils due to it’s intense history of eruptions as such much of the top soil is covered in volcanic rock. In order to grow vegetation, including grapes, farmers must dig a small crater in order for the vines to access the nutrient rich soil below the rock (pictured below).
That’s not their only challenge, small stone walls must be built around these holes, known as a hoyo, to protect the vines from the high speed winds. Hundreds of these little pockets make up a “vineyard” with camels and mule doing most of the heavy lifting during harvest. The most important island in terms of wine production is Tenerife with a total of 5 DO’s on the single island and boasting vineyards up to 1700m above sea level. Bodega Viñátigo is located here in the south western DO of Ycoden Daute Isora.
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