Envinate '21 - Part Two - Canarias y Galicia

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Year after year, we fall in love with the wines of Envinate, a collaborative project founded by four winemakers and friends who met while in enology school in Alicante. Roberto Santana, Alfonso Torrente, Laura Ramos, and José Martínez make wines from choice plots in the Canary Islands, Ribeira Sacra, Murcia, and Almansa, intending to express the unique terroirs of each region. They have eliminated all invasive chemical treatments in the vineyards and are  producing wines with methods in the cellar that transmit the character of their plots. To this end, they pick by hand, ferment with native yeasts, and ferment and age in old wood and concrete.  As they progress on their journey, they have been honing their winemaking skills, and deepening their relationship with the vineyards they tend, and the unique terroirs and grapes they work with.

The famous shot of the Envinate crew (we'll ask the folks at Jose Pastor Selections for a new one for next year...)

 

Collectively, the Envinate team decided in 2020 to stop using temperature control in the cellar, and they started to work with shorter macerations with their wines. The change from using temperature control is indeed notable, and reveals the confidence that they have in their work, and in their parcels, which they have now tended for many years. To some degree, the shorter macerations may be in response to the challenging conditions, such as drought in their vineyards, but seems to clearly also be an approach towards a delicate style. Since the 2020 vintage, the wines are a touch more "ready" and graceful, and 2021 is an impressive continuation of the trend!

Today we offer the second round of Envinate wines from the 2021 vintage. In Tenerife in the Canary Islands, there was healthy rainfall and a mild Spring without too much humidity, so grapes were healthy and conditions were the best they have been in many years (according to the Envinate team). On the mainland, the conditions in Ribeira Sacra were essentially perfect, a combination of a cool rainy Spring, heat in the Summer, a bit of rain before harvest... not much more you could ask for! Conditions have not been this ideal, nor harvests as "late" (also known as 'the old normal' for the area) since 2014. Northern Spain clearly had a very special year in 2021, without the frosts or other issues that hit much of Europe. We will not hype as we have a reputation for refraining from the act, but '21 is worth paying attention to in Northern Spain, and the Envinate wines are perfect examples.

All wines will be in store next week, for delivery or shipment the week of 2/27. We are always happy to hold until the Spring as well.

No Longer Available

Envinate 2021 Tenerife Palo Blanco

100% Listán Blanco from centenarian vines in the black volcanic soil of the Palo Blanco vineyard, in the Valle de la Orotava of northern Tenerife. This area is humid despite the substantial elevation (600m above sea level), and the vines are trained in the braided Cordon Trenzado method to promote airflow. All grapes are hand harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete before aging in a mix of foudre and used barrels for 10 months. Bottled without fining or filtering, and with only a touch of sulfur. Notes of petrol, mint,and lemons, with subtle fleshy character and savory density.

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $58.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Envinate 2021 Tenerife Palo Blanco 1.5L

100% Listán Blanco from centenarian vines in the black volcanic soil of the Palo Blanco vineyard, in the Valle de la Orotava of northern Tenerife. This area is humid despite the substantial elevation (600m above sea level), and the vines are trained in the braided Cordon Trenzado method to promote airflow. All grapes are hand harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in concrete before aging in a mix of foudre and used barrels for 10 months. Bottled without fining or filtering, and with only a touch of sulfur. Notes of petrol, mint,and lemons, with subtle fleshy character and savory density. Not to be missed1

  • Out of Stock
  • white
  • 0 in stock
  • $129.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Envinate 2021 Tenerife 'La Santa' Tinto

The La Santa vineyards are in Tacorante Acentejo, on the northern part of or Tenerife, just east of the Valle de la Orotava, where Envinate's 'Migan' and 'Palo Blanco' come from. Tacorante Acentejo is the first D.O. established on Tenerife, and the 3 plots here are mostly sandy clay over red basalt. Grapes see partial carbonic maceration here, and are aged in neural French barrels for about 8 months. This is a lovely expression, showing some of the trademark reductive Canary funk on the nose, and bright, brambly, luscious fruit on the palate. 48% Negramol, 50% Listan Negro, and 2% Listan Blanco.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $58.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Envinate 2021 Tenerife Taganan Tinto Parcela Margalagua

This is a single parcel that is distinct for the presence of red basalt mixed with sandy, iron-rich volcanic soil. As with the other Taganan parcels, the vines range in age from 70-300 years old. A blend of Listan Negro, with smaller percentages of Vijariego, Malvasia Negra, Boboso, Negramoll, and more. Fermentation is all whole cluster in open top barrels, and aging is for one year in neutral French oak. Already the Margalagua shows a delicate and pretty nose, almost reminiscent of Gamay. Light-medium bodied, with soft, rustic tannins.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $97.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Envinate 2021 Ribeira Sacra Lousas Vinas de Aldea 1.5L Mag

Mencia grape. Ribeira sacra. made with whole cluster fermentation and aged in French oak barrels for eleven months. The gang of four friends behind these bottles met while studying enology in Alicante, Spain. After graduating, they formed a wine consulting business to find lost, old vineyards and indigenous grapes and start producing wines from these sites and grapes. The aim has been no chemicals, handwork, and indigenous yeast only.

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $91.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Envinate 2021 Ribeira Sacra Lousas Rosende

Rosende is a wine that lands between the "village" level Lousas and the single vineyard Camino Novo and Seoane bottlings. Not a single parcel wine, it is nonetheless sourced from a single slope of decomposed sandy granite. Mostly Mencia, with a bit of Sousón, Brancelao, Gran Negro and other varieties on the border between the Amandi and Ribeiras do Miño subzones. Lovely rustic flavors, with minerals and subtle tannins in the finish. -EL

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $58.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur

Envinate 2021 Ribeira Sacra Lousas Doad

Doade is a protected village DO in Ribeira Sacra now, after many years and attempts to have it accepted and protected. This bottling from Envinate is from the village, but as they don't submit their wines for DO approval, they cannot use the full name of the village here.  Soils here are mostly schist, with quartz and gneiss. A lovely, medium-bodied red, with notes of herbs and spice. There is a forest floor profile that reminds me of Raffault Chinon Picasses. A wine to guard, with perfect material, structure and elegance. -EL

  • Out of Stock
  • red
  • 0 in stock
  • $58.99

  • Organic
  • Low Sulfur