Envinate Benje Blanco 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 8 years. No need to decant. Envinate is a collective of four winemakers who, after meeting at university, quickly made a name for themselves with their winery in Spain. Their wines, produced in small quantities, are the pure expression of the different Spanish terroirs and are produced with traditional winemaking techniques. Envínate Benje Blanco wine is made with the native Listan Blanco grape variety from several plots located just outside Santiago del Teide, at the top of the volcanic mountain Pico de Teide, at an altitude of 900 – 1200 m, with 70 – 110-year-old plants. The vines are cultivated by Envínate and 15 other local families according to highly traditional practices. The temperate climate of the island of Tenerife allows the grapes to ripen at moderate alcohol levels while maintaining bright acidity. The grapes are harvested by hand and left to macerate on their skins for 12-24 hours. After fermentation, the wine rests on the lees in a mix of used French oak vessels and concrete tanks. About 30% of the wine is aged under flor, which has developed naturally in one of the concrete tanks. This volcanic wine reveals a strongly mineral aromatic profile with aromas of ripe fruit, white peach, and spicy citrus. On the palate, Benje Blanco has a surprising structure (thanks also to the development of flor) and abundant food pairing potential. Try it with roast chicken or turkey or veal ossobuco.

Price: £22.86 from 8wines UK