Wine Review of Urban Uco Torrontés 2009 from Salta, Argentina

Grape 100% Torrontés [Tohr-ron-tez]

Facts Torrontés is one of the most widely planted white grape varieties in Argentina with Chardonnay way behind it. With the recent upsurge in sales and media over the past couple of years, it’s likely to stay that way for a while.

Argentina has been growing Torrontés for years, but kept most of the juice to themselves. For the most part, yields were high, and the wines were usually watery-thin. With Torrontés being prepared for export and with a new wave of younger winemakers, yields were reduced and quality soon improved.

There is a slight disagreement as to whether Torrontés is indigenous to Argentina, or was brought over from Spain a few hundred years ago. It goes without saying that Argentina has embraced the varietal today.

The wines produced from Torrontés are normally 100% of the grape, however some producers are experimenting by blending it with Chardonnay. Grape harvest for the Urban Uco begins in March (about a 6 month difference from Northern hemisphere vineyards), all grapes are hand-sorted at the winery. Some sources suggest that Torrontés will become the new Pinot Grigio, this for consumers who are looking for crisp and refreshing whites at a reasonable price. Florida is a great proving-ground for the grape as there is big demand for these types of wines due to the climate.

Place It is not known how Torrontés arrived in Argentina, but it seems to have been there a long time, suggesting that it was brought by Spanish colonists, quite possibly missionaries. This story is true for the majority of grapes growing in South America.

Like its red counterpart Malbec, Torrontés thrives in Argentina's unique terroir, and has yet to find a suitable climate elsewhere. There are two main regions of production for Torrontés . Salta (see map) in the North and the warmer Mendoza region, 600 miles to the south. Salta has some of the highest vineyards at between 5,000-6,000 ft. above sea level. Due to its cooler climate, and even cooler nights, Torrontés wines produced in Salta are usually more crisp and high in acid. Torrontés produced in Mendoza is more aromatic, intense and generally “bigger”.

Argentina has an extremely low rainfall, so the vines rely on a complex trench canal irrigation system to collect water from the snow melting on the Andes Mountains.

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As previously discussed, Argentinean winemakers have greatly improved the quality of Torrontés by seeking lower, more concentrated yields in the vineyard. Because Torrontés can sometimes taste bitter or unripe, viticulturists pick blocks at different levels of ripeness and then blend the juice to give balance to the finished product.

Taste

I really do believe that Torrontés is the quintessential summer quaffing wine! The Urban Uco shows white flowers, peach and apricot on the nose. The palate reveals much of the same, with pear, and a gooseberry and lemony acidity. Hints at sweetness, but finishes fairly dry. Very clean, very crisp, no oak.

Food Pairing Torrontés is best enjoyed in its youth either by itself, or as a great match for smoked meats, white fish, crab, mild to medium-strong cheeses or spicy Thai, Asian or Mexican cuisine. Check out my previous post on Striped Bass with Sweet Carrots and Apple Cider Glaze paired with the Ambar Torrontés. Delicious!

Availability $8.99 from World Market

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