Ignios Orígenes Vijariego Negro 2014

"The 2014 Ignios Orígenes Vijariego Negro, which was my favourite in 2013 (the first vintage produced), is produced with a young vineyard planted some eight years ago in the rainy zone of Ycod de los Vinos at some 750 meters' altitude. The destemmed grapes fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts with very little pumping over. Once pressed, it's transferred to used 228- and 600-liter oak barrels for malolactic fermentation and eleven months aging. This is the variety that in Cataluña is known as Sumoll, the red with the longest cycle of those grown in the Canary Islands, the last to be harvested, in the second half of October. This year it was also my favorite wine; the nose is really complex and elegant, combining notes of dry flowers, spices (cracked peppercorns), with an herbal twist, hints of orange peel and a strong minerality. It's redolent of wet pumice, clearly a volcanic red. The medium-bodied palate is somehow austere, with some dusty tannins, as well as superb acidity that gives the wine great freshness and length. He uncorked a bottle of the 2013 for comparison and 2014 has gained in precision, freshness and elegance - a constant in the wines here and a sign of a winery on the way up. Super! At this price, it's a real bargain.1,400 bottles were produced in 2014".