2020 Suertes del Marqués, Valle de la Orotava Vino Tinto "El Esquilón"

No tour of the special terroir of Tenerife would be complete without a red wine made from Listán Negro, and it so happens that we have a small amount of just that from one of our very favorite Canary Island superstars: Suertes del Marqués. Ever since a couple members of the SommSelect team visited this estate some years ago, we’ve been head over hills for these unique wines. “El Esquilón” is a single vineyard of 80 year old, pre-phylloxera vines, that is mostly Listán Negro with some of the local Tintilla as well. It’s classic Canary: Smoky, savory, bright and fresh, but with a surprisingly deep and complex structure, and it is only getting better with time. It’s pretty simple then, grab some of the Listán Blanco to the left here, grab some of this lovely Listán Negro, and you’ll be ready to do the Tenerife two-step. To get from the Valle de Güímar, where you find our standout white from Tenerife “Locartas,” to the Valle de la Orotava all you need to do is cross over the mountain ridg