2018 Suertes del Marques 7 Fuentes

Suertes is located on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands at the northern end in the Valle de La Orotova. The family have been farming vines for over 40 years but Suertes del Marques began in 2006. Owner Jonatan Garcia Lima runs the property and is part of a growing breed of intensely passionate young Spanish producers capitalising on the heritage vines and the volcanic soils to speak through his eloquent, mineral driven wines. Recently he has started working with talented young winemaker Luis Seabra. The estate has some incredibly old, low-yielding vines that produces wines with freshness, balance, purity of fruit, minerality and authentic terroir character.
A blend of 90% Listan Negro and 10% Castellara Negra grapes, 60% of which was aged for 9 months in small concrete tanks and 40% for 9 months in 500 litre neutral French oak barrels. Dark red core with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Delicate red and sour cherry scents have an earthy leather overlay with some funky reductive, barnyard and stalky asparagus like notes also present. Light to medium weight with a savoury feel, red currant and red cherry fruits meld into scorched earth, dried meats, a subtle stalkiness and peppered herbs. Bright underlying acidity with fine grained tannins and a mid length aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.5%

Other Reviews….
The spectacular and super-affordable 2018 7 Fuentes would be the wine I recommend as an introduction to the zone, the variety and the style of the wines. It's mostly Listán Negro with some 10% Castellana Negra (Tinta Cao) from a variety of vineyards ranging between 10 and 200 years of age and at altitudes ranging between 300 to 700 meters above sea level. It fermented in concrete tanks with around 10% full clusters and indigenous yeasts. Seventy percent of the volume was kept in concrete, and the remaining 30% matured in used 500-liter oak barrels for nine months. It's open and expressive, without any reduction, and it has bright red fruit, with freshness, watermelon and redcurrants. It's juicy and approachable but with complexity and freshness on the palate, harmonious and elegant and very tasty. It is an updated version of the 2016. This is a bargain. 50,000 bottles produced. There are six lots from one single master blend. It was bottled in December 2019. Drink 2020-2024.
93 points
Luis Gutierrez – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate