PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
El Hierro is the smallest, westernmost, and wildest of the Canary Islands, off the beaten path, with a rugged volcanic landscape and some of the least-visited trails in the archipelago. Rayco Fernández, of the Puro Rofe winery in Lanzarote, was drawn to it, convinced the little-known island had a bright future in wine. In 2018, he founded Bimbache, named for the island’s first inhabitants, with just 5 hectares of vineyards spread across three municipalities: Valverde, Frontera, and El Pinar. The winemaking team is Pablo Matallana, Esau Suárez, and Silvia Viot.
The vineyards are extraordinary. Vines grow on terraces carved into black volcanic walls, and in “hoyos,” small craters dug into the rocky soils and surrounded by short walls of lava stone to protect them from the trade winds that rarely stop blowing. The reds come from the sunny, semi-arid south of the island, on volcanic sands, ash, and clay, at an average altitude of about 800 meters, from old vines, some of them more than a century old. The Tinto is a field blend of dozens of varieties, mostly Listán Negro, with Vijariego Negro and Listán Prieto, and it’s one of the few reds on an island best known for white wines. The farming is organic, harvests are by hand, and the grapes are destemmed and fermented spontaneously, macerated two weeks in stainless steel, and aged in tank, then bottled unfined and unfiltered with only a small dose of sulfur. Only about 5,000 bottles are produced, at about 13% ABV.
The result is a pale ruby wine that’s light-footed and mineral. The nose is “a potpourri of mineral notes (lava, pumice, flint),” and the palate has “notes of strawberry and plums intermixed with herbal notes of fig leaves.” Another description finds “crunchy red berries, sour cherry, herbs, and a subtle smoky, earthy edge courtesy of its volcanic soils,” with “bright acidity and soft tannins.” Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate scored it 93 (the 2020 scored 94 and the 2022 scored 95), and Guía Peñin described the 2022 as having “red berry notes, floral, spicy, wild herbs, smoky... flavourful, fruity, good acidity, balanced.”
It’s a small, rare, distinctive wine for customers who like Pinot Noir, Frappato, Gamay, or Etna Rosso and want to try something from a place few have visited. Serve it slightly chilled. It pairs with grilled vegetables, tapas, lamb, and charcuterie.
Bimbache 2021 Tinto is produced by Bimbache in the D.O. El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain, from old vines (some over 100 years old) at about 800 meters in the south of the island, on volcanic sands, ash, and clay, from a field blend of mostly Listán Negro with Vijariego Negro, Listán Prieto, and other varieties. Organically farmed, hand-harvested, destemmed, spontaneously fermented, macerated two weeks in stainless steel, aged in tank, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. About 5,000 bottles. About 13% ABV, 750ml.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate — 93 Points (2021 vintage)
(2020: 94 · 2022: 95)
Importer description (2021 vintage):
“In the glass, the Bimbache Tinto has a very clear, light ruby red color. On the nose, a potpourri of mineral notes (lava, pumice, flintstone...). There are notes of strawberry and plums in the red 2021 Bimbache Tinto that are intermixed with herbal notes of fig leaves.”
Guía Peñin (2022 vintage; house-style context):
“Color: cherry, purple rim. Aroma: red berry notes, floral, spicy, wild herbs, smoky. Flavour: flavourful, fruity, good acidity, balanced.”
Nose
Light ruby. Potpourri, lava stone, pumice, and flint, with strawberry, plum, and fig leaf.
Palate
Light- to medium-bodied and juicy, with crunchy red berries, sour cherry, wild herbs, and a smoky earthiness, with bright acidity and soft tannin.
Finish
Fresh and mineral, with a lingering herbal and volcanic note.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Appellation | D.O. El Hierro, Canary Islands, Spain |
| Blend | Mostly Listán Negro, with Vijariego Negro, Listán Prieto, and other varieties |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Producer | Bimbache (founded 2018 by Rayco Fernández) |
| Vineyards | South El Hierro, ~800m; volcanic sands, ash, and clay; terraces and lava-stone craters; vines up to 100+ years old |
| Farming / Winemaking | Organic; hand-harvested; spontaneous fermentation; unfined and unfiltered |
| Production | About 5,000 bottles |
| ABV | ~13% |
| Critics | Wine Advocate 93 |
| Style / Identity | A rare, light, mineral, volcanic red from the Canary Islands |
| Aromas & Flavors | Strawberry, plum, sour cherry, fig leaf, wild herbs, lava stone, subtle smoke |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Serve slightly chilled, at about 58-62°F.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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