2005 Amaicha Torrontes
Saturday, September 8th, 2007Price: $1.99 @ Trader Joe’s imported by Goldschmidt Vineyards
What They Said:
Per quaffability “This is an odd wine that I found while searching in vain for an Argentinean Malbec suggested by a reader. I confess that I had never heard of the Torrontes varietal before tasting this wine, and, having knocked around the web looking for info for a few minutes, I think I know even less now then I did before. It’s either originally from Mavasia or native to Argentina. It might be a common Spanish varietal, or it might be a cross between the native American Mission grape and a variety of Muscat. Hmm… what’s a good synonym for “whatever”?
The nose offers very fruity flowery notes with lemon, lychee and grapefruit. In the mouth it’s also quite fruity, but with a suprising element of petroleum, turning quite dry on the lean finish.
This wine reminds me that tasting impressions can really vary by circumstance. Sampled before dinner one night, my wife and I both said “okay… interesting” but moved on to other things without any thought of grabbing the bottle for a refill. Too fruity, not quite appealing, and a little odd tasting. But a few nights later, after my wife had made the mistake of telling the guy at the Chinese take-out place that our food wasn’t spicy enough last time, the wine went down awfully good with a blistering order of chicken in garlic sauce.”
What I Think:
As mentioned with my initial Bonarda posting I remember these showing up at TJ’s sometime last year. At the time I grabbed one of each, this and the Bonarda. After having them both I ran to the store to find more of the red to no avail and put this one on my “do not drink” list as I can still recall it tasted almost like nothing.
Redux, once again I find them both but pass on the white. Then being overly impressed with the red I overcome my predisposition to ignoring the white. Sometime later with taco salad on the table this wine finds itself on our table. On the nose you get..nothing; no fruit, just barrel. This wine is very light leading me to think the alcohol percentage must be low. There is hints of citrus but mostly wood with grassy undertones. As there is no fruit there is certainly no sweetness. Makes me think outside the “wine” box. I pomder European type schnapps before settling on Vodka as there is little flavor here.
In my industry we always talk about the “aspirational” you. I can see where this wine is trying to go, it just never gets there. Given that it is $2 though it is worth a try, as long as this isn’t your only impression of Torrontes. Give this Zolo a try. While your at it find some Vinho Verde as well.
Rating: 12th Bottle
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(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
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