The Orotova Valley is an unusual north and northeast facing wine region on the volcanic slopes of Tenerife’s Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain and the highest above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic. Here, crazy old vines (some over 200 years old), yield wines of perplexing minerality, seeking comfort in the fog, which protects them from the intense island sunlight. In an area so remote, these vines have lived phylloxera-free for centuries, their roots never re-grafted onto American rootstock. They are defiant, thick, strong, practically immortal, as if they were made by the hands of a deity. "Trenzando" refers to the unique training method where the vines stretch-out like fat braided fingers. This bottling is predominantly Listán Blanco (or Palomino Fino) with a dollop of other native varieties. All work in the vineyard is done by hand, following organic practices, which carries over into a minimalist approach in the cellar. Wild yeast fermentation in various sizes of old oak barrels happens very slowly, and the wine rests on its lees for 10 months before bottling. Impressive on the nose, the wine draws you in like a magnet with its big poofs of charred earth, lemon, and almond crunch. Equally generous and tense on the palate, it reminds me of a Chassagne-Montrachet with a mysterious, sweet-smoky minerality on the finish. For this price, the pedigree of vines with the attention to detail, from vineyard to glass, is unparalleled. So, grab a few extra bottles, and go back in time with Suertes del Marqués.   Happy Drinking, Allegra A