The most volcanic red wines from the smallest island, El Hierro
With this wine, we venture into the territory of the experienced taster.
This is the kind of wine your cellar needs if you're tired of the usual suspects…
We are personally huge fans of this style, but I must admit these wines are not the easiest to approach.
Introduction: El Hierro is the most Atlantic and western island of the Canaries
It is also the smallest island; you can drive around it in half a day.
There is also a massive difference in altitude: on the northern side, which rises almost vertically from the sea, you can drive up to nearly 1000 meters. The reward is an otherworldly view.
It’s been a while since I last visited the island, but few vineyards have left such an impression on me.
So extreme, so Atlantic...
It could only be an extreme personality like
Rayco Fernandez who vinifies these
demanding vineyards. What he achieves on
Lanzarote with his
Puro Rofe, he does with an extra level of difficulty in El Hierro.
Red wines are more limited and come partly from the south of the island.
And yet, the wines remain fresh and Atlantic.
As Gutiérrez from Parker describes them: “more Burgundian and less volcanic, but with a Loire (à la Chinon) touch of herbal freshness. It’s super volcanic and ashy.”
And we haven’t even talked about the grape varieties yet. They are
extremely original 😊.
Listán Prieto, Listán Negro, and Verijariego Tinto.