2019 Puro Rofe Blanco

Puro Rofe is the project of local wine merchant Rayco Fernández, located on the volcanic island of Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Along with winemaker Carmelo Peña, they farm an array of different vineyards, which are comprised of indigenous and ancient vines. Viticulture on Lanzarote is unique in it’s construction, where a single vine is planted in the base of a hand-dug pit, allowing the vine to access sub surface moisture, but also protecting it from the harsh island winds. The landscape of Lanzarote has a moon like surface (due to an eruption covering the whole island in black ash), while the pits (locally known as hoyos) are reminiscent of craters on the moon.

Fermentation takes place in concrete vats, some clay amphora and older large format oak, while pressing is done via traditional basket press. Every effort is taken to champion and preserve these ancestral vines in the wine, which is portrayed with a focus on texture, freshness and tension. Expect a saline core from the oceanic influence, lifted by the ethereal and smoky aroma’s associated with volcanic wines.

Other Reviews....
The entry-level white 2019 Rofe Blanco is a blend of grapes from different parts of Lanzarote—Malvasía Volcánica, Listán Blanco and Diego (a.k.a. Vijariego Blanco). The Malvasía ripens early, so it's partly fermented in stainless steel and cooled down to wait for the Diego, which is picked approximately 25 days later! It was kept in stainless steel for eight months. It's the wine that expresses the overall character of the island with the smoky and mineral character and a terse texture, a little wider than the 2018, still pungent, with 50% malolactic and a salty, iodine-driven and tasty finish. 3,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020.
92 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate (Sept 2020)