The Artifice Tinto 2018 is made from Listan Negro and has everything you could desire from a Tenerife red, evoking wild cherry, pomegranate, kumquat, white pepper and orange peel. In term of aromatic flare, it shares similarities with grapes like Nebbiolo, Nerello Mascalese and Gamay (imagine a Beaujolais sourced from a vent in the earth's crust through which lava, steam and ashes are expelled!). It’s only medium-bodied and fairly zippy for a red wine, with sour cherry acidity, but it's full of character. It’s the sort of wine I would love to be served at a groovy wine-bar like Sager and Wilde or The Remedy, either on its own or with food, or on my own or with company, because even if I’m on my own, it’s bound to pique the curiosity of my fellow drinkers and I probably won’t be drinking alone for long! 12.5% alc. Organic farming. 10 months in oak. Drink now-2026.

Organic farming

Press reviews:

The Wine Advocate: “Produced with Listán Negro from different vineyards, altitudes and soils, the 2018 Artífice Tinto fermented mostly in stainless steel with some stems, thanks to the new destemmer he bought. The wine matured separately in oak barrels and foudres for 10 to 11 months and then was blended together and bottled. It has a meaty note on the nose, quite different from the majority of Listán Negro wines from the island, reminiscent of boiled ham, with a smoky/flinty touch. It's juicy and very pleasant, with a soft texture. With time in the glass, notes of dried petals and subtle pumice stone emerge, along with a peppery twist and volcanic undertones. It has bright flavours and very good freshness, tasty, spicy and a little herbal with nuances that Pérez attributes to the use of the stems. I like it!” 93 points

Jancis Robinson MW: “Lively, sweet, transparent fruit – pure refreshment. Juicy and with rose-petal notes.” 16.5 points

Decanter: “Former racing car mechanic Borja Pérez inherited his family vineyards in Tenerife in 2011 and decided to bottle his own wine rather than selling the grapes. He focuses on local varieties, such as this Listán Negro, both restoring old ungrafted vines and planting new sites. Very much a product of its volcanic, maritime terroir, this has really super freshness and minerality, allied with bright cherry fruit, blood orange notes, dried herbs and white pepper. Medium-bodied with nice grip and a savoury smack on the finish. Drink now-2026." 91 points

Customer comments:

“The Tenerife wine is delicious!” - Mr A.R.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CORKS CAN BE A LITTLE CRUMBLY ON SOME BOTTLES, BUT IT IS WORTH PERSERVERING!