Crios Torrontes

Crios Torrontes

 

 

 

Crios Torrontes

The Crios Torrontes is produced by José Lovaglio, the son of Susan Balbo.  Susan Balbo has produced a wider variety of wines than any other winemaker in Argentina. Susana was also the first Argentine winemaker to be hired as a consultant to make wine outside of Argentina. The label Crios features a series of three connected and overlapping hands, an image that represents Susana and her children. Crios actually means offspring. This wine is produced from 100% Torrontes grape grown in Cafayate, Altamira, and La Rioja vineyards.  The Crios Torrontes is sealed with a screwtop and has a 13.9% alcohol level. 

 The Crios Torrontes is a pale green-tinged yellow color. On the nose are aromas of peach pit, white pear, peach flowers, sweet orange rind, pineapple, wet stone minerality, ripe nectarine, and sweet key lime pie.  On the palate ruby red grapefruit, Meyer lemon, wet river stone, orange rind, white flowers, honeysuckle, white pepper, unripe nectarine, and fresh peach. This wine finishes fruity and floral, but is dry. Overall, one of my absolutely favorite wines!

This wine is a wonderful partner with:

• smoked meats

• shellfish such as scallops, crab, and lobster

• cooking techniques that bring out the sweetness in foods such as caramelizing, smoking, and deep fat-frying

• all cheeses!

• traditional holiday fare such as goose, ham, turkey, duck, and sweet potatoes...yum

• polenta, baked squash, risotto, and roasted root vegetables

Trumpeter Torrontes

Trumpeter Torrontes

The Trumpeter Torrontes is made by Rutini Wines which are one of the oldest and most celebrated wineries in Argentina.  The white grapes for this wine were hand harvested from the Tupungato district of Mendoza, Argentina.  This wine is a 100% Torrontes grape.  The Trumpeter Torrontes has a 13.5% alcohol level and is sealed with a artificial cork.

The Trumpeter Torrontes is a bright pale yellow color.  On the nose are white flower, honeysuckle, peach blossom, rose, fresh peach, meyer lemon, sweet orange, lychee, steel minerals, and crisp minerality.  This wine tasted of pear, peach, green melon, orange rind, dried herbs, grapefruit, apricot, lime zest, and wet stone minerality.  The Trumpeter Torrontes finished with crisp minerality and high acidity.  A delicious summer time wine!

Food Pairing Ideas

• Pizza!
• Spicy Thai salads
• Pork with caramelized onions
• Smoked salmon with lemon
• Pasta with fresh summer vegetables
• Sushi
• Mild cheese of brie, brigante

'Tis the season!  With Thanksgiving over, the craze of Christmas tradition begins!  One of my favorite traditions is putting up the Christmas tree, listening to classic Christmas music, and drinking alittle sparkling wine.  It is the prefect combination!  When I ran across this bottle of Argentine sparkling wine in the store I was intrigued and had to buy it.  The NV Pascual Toso Brut sparkling wine is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes that are grown in Barrancas, Maipu, and Mendoza, Argentina.  This brut was sealed with a natural cork and had a 12.5% alcohol content. 

The Pascual Toso was a pale straw color with green hues.  On the nose were notes of toast, butter, lemon juice, green apple, fresh baked bread, nectarine, and pear.  On the palate are characteristics of dry apple, unripe nectarine, yeast, delicate white flower, pear, and lime zest.  This sparkling wine had a crisp, dry finish.  Overall, the perfect way to carry on my favorite Christmas tradition. 

Argento Torrontes

What can I say? It was an Argentina themed weekend! After a wonderful Malbec, a refreshing Torrontes seemed the prefect way to begin a wonderful week. The 2010 Argento Torrontes is produced in the region of Salta, Argentina located in the northwestern portion of the country. Salta is the up and coming region producing amazing white wines made from the Torrontes grape. This Torrontes had an alcohol level of 13.5% and was sealed by a screwtop.

The 2010 Argento Torrontes was a dark yellow color with green hues. On the nose were hints of honeysuckle, honeydew, white blossoms, lilly, fresh bouquet of flowers, pear, pear skins, wet stone minerality, peach, mint, and slight citrus. On the palate were notes of ripe peach, nectarines, peach skins, fresh mint, slate, orange blossoms, honeysuckle, cantaloupe, pear, and orange. This was a medium bodied white wine with a refreshing, dry finish. Overall, all I have to say is.....Viva Argentina!

Durigutti Malbec

The Durigutti label has always produced great Bonarda (an Italian red grape grown in Argentina) wine therefore I was interested in trying their Malbec. The 2008 Durigutti Malbec is produced in Mendoza, Argentina by the Durigutti brothers. This Malbec had a 14% alcohol level and sealed with an artificial...probably rubber cork.

The Durigutti Malbec had an opaque, dark ruby red color with ample viscosity. On the nose were hints of blackberries, plums, dark cherries, dried potpourri, licorice, black pepper, pine cones, wet forest floor, and fresh pine trees. On the palate were notes of dark fruits, berries, smoke, toast, cinnamon, chocolate, black pepper, coffee, violet, dark cherries, and charred wood. This Malbec had ample tannin with a medium plus finish. Overall, the Durigutti brothers did it again with this Malbec.

Tierra Noble Malbec

One of the hottest red wines right now is a Malbec from Argentina, so its no wonder I was tempted to try this wonderful little wine. The 2008 Tierra Noble Malbec is from the heart of Argentina wine country, Mendoza. It has a 13.8% alcohol content and is sealed with an artificial cork.

The Tierra Noble Malbec had an opaque dark maroon color with a lighter dark red rim. The nose was surprisingly sweet with notes of blackberry, blueberry, rich plums, dark fruits, nutmeg, and light oak. On the palate were characteristics similar to the nose, such as spice, blackberry, blueberry jam, cherry, and bright minerality. This Malbec had a medium finish with light tannin and acidity. Overall, a very pleasant Malbec!