Alta Vista Estate Torrontes 2014

Slate, stone and other minerals with white peach undertones. Full body, tangy acidity, and a long finish. Stylish and flavorful.

The 2014 Premium Torrontes is produced with grapes from Cafayate in the province of Salta. The grapes come from a rented vineyard they work and have been the source for this wine since the beginning, a vineyard that was planted in the 1920s. The grapes are harvested at three different points in time, early, normal and late in order to obtain more balance and complexity and keep an homogeneous style through vintages. The grapes are pressed in Salta and the musts are transported by truck to the winery in Mendoza for vinification. This is produced in a fresh, high-acidity, fruit-driven style that is quite floral with jasimine and very spicy notes making it resemble a Gewürztraminer more than a Moscatel. They harvested six days earlier in 2014, and there is less opulence and more elegant minerality and balance. The acidity is there but is very nicely coated by glossy fruit. Most people drink this very young, but I have the feeling the best examples can last much longer than we think; owner Patrick d'Aulan tells me he's now drinking 2008. They have plenty of land in Cafayate so the plan is to slowly plant something between 20 and 40 hectares of vineyards there. Beautiful wine, beautiful price. 70,000 bottles produced.