Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to become involved in two different wine events separated by something like thirty minutes. The first was a tasting of wines from Tenerife--my island--collected under one roof at the oldest and most venerable hotel in the city. Wines from the five (sic) different appellations were poured in awful stems. I was lucky to snatch one of those ISO glasses from a table and stick to it all afternoon.
The second was a tasting-presentation of Champagne Ruinart, a totally different story!
The wines of Tenerife have (actually, had) never really interested me a great deal. The varieties are pretty odd, the soil is attractively volcanic in many places, the producers own very small parcels at best. OK, that sounds like Alsace's Rangen...but there the comparison ends. I'm slowly converting, but I (want to) believe it's not me changing but rather the wines improving.
Here's a selection of TNs and general impressions.
WHITES
Tierra de Frontos 2002 Flor de Chasna Afrutado 2002 TÁGARA Listán Blanco 2002
Ditto. Semisweet rather than demisec. Pricey. 84
Bs Ruiz La Lujana 2002 Monje EVENTO Listán Blanco Barrel Fermented 2001 Monje Moscatel 2000 (sticky) REDS
Tajinaste Listán Negro 2002 Tajinaste Listán Negro 4m in oak 2002 Viña El Mato Carbonic Maceration 2002 El Mocanero Barrel Fermented 2001 Cráter 2001 Sansofé "Puerto de la Madera" 2001 Bs Ruiz Tradición Monje de Autor (Alfredo Kraus) 1998