Bodegas Viñátigo Listan Blanco 2021

If your lasting memory of wine from the Canary islands is that of cheap, harsh all-inclusive hotel plonk, then we'll forgive you for overlooking the region as a serious prouder of outstanding textural, mineral, complex volcanic wines.

This is your gateway bottle into the style. This is 100% Listan Blanco from Tenerife (better known as Palomino Fino by Sherry drinkers) and has just a whiff of that volcanic minerality and crushed rocks, but is supported by lovely fresh citrus fruits, white blossom and a nice savouriness which you could describe as fennel. Weighty on the palate. A really good example of a terroir focused wine that doesn't take itself too seriously. 

Press review:

Jamie Goode: “Juan Jesús, 4th generation winemaker, founded Viñátigo in 1990, and worked tirelessly since identifying and renovating the native grapes of Spain’s Canary Islands. From pre-phyllexera pergola-trained organically grown Listán Blanco rooted in northwest Tenerife’s volcanic soils (500-700m), this marine wine was fermented and aged in stainless. Opening with the island grape’s characteristic reductive swing, this positively vibrates with volcanic intensity, buzzing quince skin, perfumed white peach blossom, lemon verbena, green apple, meadow grasses along a saline palate. The finish lingers long with a salt wash. Terrific typicity, and ample smashability.”