2008 Alamos Torrontés Recommended by Whom You Know's Champagne Wishes Panel
2008 Alamos Torrontés
This Alamos wine comes from high altitude vineyards in the Salta wine region of northwestern Argentina. The wine represents the highest levels of the art of blending, using grapes from many distinct microclimates. Alamos wines are blended to create flavorful, drinkable wines that preserve each variety’s distinctive flavors, aromas, and textures. The Whom You Know Champagne Wishes panel recommends the 2008 Alamos Torrontes and we have previously recommended the 2008 Alamos Malbec.
TORRONTÉS: AN ARGENTINE ORIGINAL
While Malbec and Mendoza are the best-known names in Argentine winemaking, a unique white varietal is gaining ground a few hundred miles to the north and west, in the Cafayate region of Salta province. The varietal is Torrontés, the flagship white wine of Argentina.
Torrontés is grown in the foothills of the Andes, in the far north of Argentina. This old Colonial part of the country is home to the highest vineyards in the world, at 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level. Characteristics of a typical Torrontés, like Alamos, include layers of fruit, flowers, and substance – dry, medium bodied, with nice acidity and a crisp finish.
There are different stories about where the Torrontés grape came from. Most believe it is native to Argentina. Another story has it coming in with Basque immigrants. Less romantic, but scientific, theories have Torrontés related to the Malvasia group of white grapes, or a hybrid of two other aromatic whites. Certainly it’s been in Argentina since the Spanish Colonial era, introduced to Cafayate by the Jesuit fathers in the Eighteenth Century. Either way, it is undoubtedly gaining popularity and attention among wine consumers.
As Torrontés appears on more American shelves and wine lists, it is finding a unique place as an Argentine original, delivering on the same promise of high quality and high value that has earned Argentine red wines their worldwide reputation.
Alamos Torrontés is versatile enough to be enjoyed alone as an aperitif, or with spicy food, traditional seafood, or tangy cheeses.
Wine Description:
Torrontés is the unique, fragrant white wine of Argentina, cultivated there since the days of the Conquistadors. Alamos Torrontés captures all of the aromatic characteristics of this Argentine grape, with lively notes of citrus and peach fruit interwoven with delicate layers of jasmine blossom and fresh herbs. The wine is light and fresh on the palate with excellent balance, finishing with bright, crisp acidity.
Harvest Notes:
Grapes for this wine came from vineyards in the high valleys of Cafayate in the Salta region 500 miles north of Mendoza. The winter of 2008 was the coldest in 40 years, and the vineyards got off to a late start. The rest of the season was warm and dry – a long period of very sunny days that drove development of great flavors, and very cold nights that let the vines rest and reach full maturity. Since an early frost had thinned the crop, the result was wine of great intensity and full flavors. The grapes were harvested on March 1, 2008.
Winemaking Notes: Felipe Stahlschmidt, Winemaker
The wine was cold fermented at a temperature of only 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Oak aging was avoided, to preserve the fresh, delicate flavors of the wine.
Appellation : Cafayete, Argentina
Varietal Content: 100 % Torrontés
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Acidity: 5.70
pH: 3.36
The Whom You Know Panel was so pleased. Here is what they had to say:
An Argentinean tango of flavor! I loved trying this wine after recently watching a wonderful movie called Bottleshock. It is based on a true story of a Paris wine competition in 1976 that included Californian wines up against the almighty French ones. This movie attests to the fact that one can get delicious and complex wines outside of France. The best Torrentes wines are said to come from the province of Salta in the north west of the country where the grape thrives in cold dry conditions. It is a distant relative of the 'Tarrantes' grape commonly found in southern Italy. It has a low acidity, smooth texture and is characterized by distinctive peach and apricot aromas on the nose. The 2008 Alamos Torrontes from northwestern Argentina (the Salta wine region) is just that. An incredibly delicious white wine. Its grapes must have had to work hard over the warm and extremely dry season creating a full flavor, with a pleasant light taste beginning its finish, and a citrus note and perfect acidity that complete it. With a history dating back to the conquistadors, the 2008 Alamos Torrontes takes on a ripe new world fruit balanced with old world structure. A perfect summer wine in the north east and year round in warmer areas. Buy a case and make it your go to white wine this year.
As a trip to Argentina isn't anywhere on my near horizons, I'll just have to content myself with the next best thing, Alamos Torrontes, a varietal of white wine made from Argentina's signature white wine grape, the Torrontes. Capturing the perfect balance of what I like best about white wine, the Alamos Torrontes is fruity, infused with hints of citrus and peach, but without being too sweet. There's a slight essence of florals and a herbs to it which brings out a nice aromatic scent. The mouth feel is crisp and refreshing without being too light and wispy. The acidity level is just right, it's dry but not overly so. Paired with a meal of seasoned and spiced seafood, it held its own without overpowering the food nor did it get cancelled out by the spiciness. An extra nice bonus is the wallet-friendly price of the Alamos Torrontes, it's a very inexpensive way to sample one of Argentina's great gifts to the world of wine.
I had the opportunity to try the 2008 Torrontes by Alamos. Of all the producers in Argentine wine country, Alamos consistently delivers, reds and whites alike. This wine is cold fermented at a very low temperature, allowing the winemaker, Felipe Stahlschmidt, to avoid oak aging in order to preserve the delicate flavors of the wine. The grapes used in the 2008 Torrontes were harvested in early 2008. The aromatics were notable, with layers of citrus and very evident peach fruit in the glass. The flavor has a subtle sweetness and is quite heavy on the fruit notes. I enjoyed the wine tonight with a spicy chicken stir-fry dish, and the spice was tamed by these lovely fruity characteristics. The wine alone without food is light and fresh on the palate, making it easy to drink every day. The acidity is crisp, and medium in level, and therefore pleasing enough when enjoyed without food. The wine finishes tangy, but not sharp, and the citrus lingers. While the peach is strong on the nose, there is grapefruit on the finish, and it seems to go on and on. The taste and finish are surprising for the price point of this bottle. The vineyards are high altitude, in the Salta Region of Northwest Argentina. The region features many microclimates, allowing more distinct grapes to successfully grow. I would very much recommend this interesting wine as a different blend from your typical tired Chardonnay.
I have had the pleasure of tasting some top notch wines since joining the review panel for Whom You Know. The 2008 Alamos Torrontes is by far the best wine I have tasted this decade. I've really only ever enjoyed the wines of France or Napa valley, but that’s only because that is what I was introduced to by my wife and she continues to make the wine selections in my house. I used to prefer beer and hard alcohol, but my wife has been kind enough to bring a little culture into my life and has introduced me to wines, most of which I've enjoyed very much. Over the years, I've sometimes mentioned wines recommended by friends, but I never really pushed the issue, never really picked out one of the bottles and brought it home. I mean, who was I to make suggestions or dare to question her about a drink of which I had no real knowledge? Anyway, when the opportunity arose to be on the panel for wine reviews I accepted happily as I have become quite the connoisseur since we married. I figured that with my wife’s guidance, I’d be able to taste a bunch of wines, passing judgment as we progressed. I am so impressed with the Alamos wines from Argentina! This particular 2008 Alamos Torrontes from the Mendoza region of Argentina has exactly what I enjoy in my white wines. It's light, it smells great (yeah, I'm into fruity and flowery), and it has a crisp finish that seems almost refreshing. You'd almost expect the wine to be sticky sweet when you get a whiff, but the scent is definitely misleading. This wine really is one to enjoy with a good meal and not just one to drink while you're waiting at the bar for your table. Serve it with fine fruit and cheese, or enjoy it with the main course. You'll love it!
