Bien de Altura 'Ikewen' Listan Negro 2022

Ok, so technically not from the Mediterranean, but this wine certainly gives off a 'Med' feel to it. Fruit here is taken from sites around an exposed spine of the main volcano of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands - off the Moroccan coast but part of Spain), called Lomo de Sepltura. It's mainly Listan Negro (that's ther grape variety) native to these islands), but as with all the old vineyards around the Canaries, there's significant amounts of other grapes dotted through such as Malvasia, Tintilla, etc. It's farmed organically on top of volcanic soils, 1500m above sea level on an island where most viticulture has sadly given way to landed needed for the bustling tourist industry. All things considered, it's a wild wine from a wild spot. But how does it taste? Master of Wine and Bondi boy Ned Goodwin describes it better than most could? see below. - Ches Cook, FWC.

Among the more characterful red wines tasted of late. Lifted notes of lavender, peony, black pepper grind, orange zest and something gritty and resolute that beams energy across the mid-palate. A diaphanous web of tannin that corrals the fruit nicely. Just the right amount of tension. The sort of wine I could drink every day. Think cru Beaujolais with Mediterranean vibes. 93 points, Ned Goodwin MW.