2020 Envinate Taganan Blanco

Envínate, which literally translates as “Wine Yourself,” is the project of four young passionate winemakers: Roberto Santana (based in the Canaries), Jose Martinez (Almansa), Laura Ramos (Murcia) and Alfonso Torrente (Ribeira Sacra). The four met while studying oenology in Alicante in 2005 and formed a collective based on a shared philosophy of wine and a desire to explore the ancient, Atlantic influenced terroirs of western Spain.

In 2008, the group bought their first vineyard in Ribeira Sacra, then took control of vineyards on the north side of Tenerife, and followed with a single patch of Tinta Amarela in Extremadura. Finally, in 2012, the group began working with a site in Almansa, where Jose lives and works, planted to Garnacha Tintorera. In each region, they work old, previously abandoned vineyards, but importantly for a project with such spread, one of the team lives full time in each location, working the vineyards year round.

Táganan is both the name of a village on the very north eastern tip of Tenerife and a local term for steep slope. Envínate make two reds and two whites from this village; Táganan Tinto and Blanco, which come from multiple old parcels and two crus, parcelas Campanario and Margalagua. All the wines are field blends containing a dizzying array of obscure local varieties grown on very old bush vines in the steep volcanic soils overlooking the ocean.

Other Reviews....
I also tasted the white 2020 Táganan Blanco, from another warm and dry year similar to 2019 that delivered even lower yields. But they learn from the experience, in the management of the vineyards but also from the experience of fermenting at higher temperature (something they started with Palo Blanco), and they also stopped using 228-liter barrels. Both in 2019 and 2020, they included the El Campanario vineyard here because volumes were tiny. The wine matured in neutral 600-liter oak barrels with fine lees without any racking or stirring of the lees. This didn't go through malolactic. The wine has more precision and definition and has more soil character and a vibrant palate with effervescent flavors and a very tasty, almost salty finish. 2,350 bottles were filled in June 2021. Drink 2022 - 2028.
95 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022)