Envinate 'Palo Blanco', Canary Islands, Spain 2023

The grapes for the 2023 Palo Blanco were harvested earlier than ever, picked even earlier than the grapes from Taganana. It was a warm year, but the wine feels more like it's from a cool climate; it has a moderate 11.5% alcohol and is volcanic and less reductive than in previous years, fine-boned and sharp, with a vibrant palate, effervescent acidity (7.1 grams and a pH of 3.05) and a dry chalkiness that gives it salinity. It's approachable but should also age in bottle. 13,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024.

98+ Pts Luis Gutierrez, Robert Parker