El Lance 2018

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 As I have finished my degree my first job has sent me to Tenerife where I had the privileged opportunity to locally know the wines that were being produced in the island. 

For most people unknown, Tenerife is producing quite some interesting wines reflecting its unique and specific terroir. It is so unique that the grapes used in this wine are almost exclusively "Canarian" and rather hard to find in main land Spain or anywhere else in the world.

The Orotava Valley, where this El Lance comes from, is home to one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen and while trying this wine I was invaded by numerous memories which made every single drop of it a unique experience of revisiting past memories.

This and the fascinating deepness and freshness that I was confronted when I have finally tasted it. Its deep red colour first seemed to me as promising some more complexity but the fresh minerality of the volcanic soil was dominant from the first sip and has developed amazingly through the decanting process maturing its main flavours of red berries with small hints of crushed stone and light scent of tobacco. And all this without losing its youth or getting too intensive.

In this case I would invite you to have a look at their website and have a quick look through the fascinating vinification process. 

I have to confess that I am quite curious to follow how this wine will mature and I am looking forward to try it again in a couple of years.

So far, one of my highlights of this year, such as the poetry of Wendy Vardaman that is living in me since I first came across it a couple of days ago and that started making me think of ways to introduce it to my students.

Enjoy this particular wine along with some good reading:

 

What we learn in time of pestilence

the blackberries mold again before they’re half-eaten
everyone needs toilet paper and diapers
                                                                                    dirt cheap
new washing machines are hard to come by

we/she/they have no words

assisted living
                                                                                    dragged through the dirt

my mother struggles toward the bathroom 
on camera behind her walker, soils herself
                                                                                    don’t talk dirty
she can’t help it, but she’s still ashamed
                                                                                    eat dirt

I wiped her bottom in January 
& said I’d be back in March

I am no fortune teller

                                                                                    hit the dirt

she grew up in dust storms,
stuffing rags under doors hurry-scurry, 
dirt-poor, and that’s shameful too
                                                                                    don’t air your dirty laundry in
                                                                                    public

she wants to eat chocolate all day
she wants to send hose to her grandmother
                                                                                    dirtbag
she wants to know why we stole her baby 
she wants to know when the kids are coming 
she wants to know where my father is
                                                                                    treated like dirt
she wants to know the time/the day/the month/the year

my family doesn’t know how to communicate
                                                                                    dig up dirt

when my mother said dirty she meant





17,5/20
Country: Spain
Region: Tenerife
Grapes: Listán Negro, Castellana Negra, Vijariego Negro
12,5%
Winemaker: N/A

Website: https://suertesdelmarques.com/#vinos/es/7-fuentes

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