Benje Tinto

Roberto Santana's high-altitude red from Santiago del Teide on the western slopes of Teide, 900-1200 m: ungrafted bush vines 70 to 120 years old on volcanic sandy soils, some parcels under ash, worked by hand together with local growers (the importer sheets credit Emilio Ramírez alongside Envínate). The parcels are co-planted, and the 2024 blend came in at roughly 90% Listán Prieto with 9% Listán Blanco and 1% Tintilla.

Native-yeast fermentation by parcel in concrete and open-top plastic with a reduced whole-cluster share this year; spontaneous malolactic parcel by parcel, then 8 months without racking - about 65% in neutral 228 l French oak, the rest in concrete. Bottled July 2025 unfined and unfiltered with a tiny sulfur addition.

2024 was dry, and a warm winter caused uneven budding that had to be corrected with a green harvest. 14,500 bottles plus 150 magnums. The label says 12%; the producer's analysis sheet reads 12.5%.