Winemaker Notes
The fragrant qualities of Tilia Torrontés have a particular affinity for dishes featuring aromatic ingredients like lemongrass, cilantro, ginger, and star anise. This wine would be a fantastic companion to any dish served with herb seafood sauce or just a simply prepared dish of Pescado en Cilantro.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2014 Torrontés is produced from new plantings in the Tolombón zone of Cafayate in the province of Salta. Quite different from previous vintages when the grapes used were grown in the east of the Mendoza province, these new parral plantings are on granite soils and with a south exposure, which in the southern hemisphere is fresher. It is initially a little tight though slowly develops spicy, citric and white flower notes, subtler, quite harmonious. In 2014 they harvested quite early and the wine has kept the acidity and did not show any bitter flavors. It feels quite serious, with a faint hint of petrol à la Riesling, and ends dry. They try to do a shorter fermentation to avoid excessive extraction of aromas, because sometimes Torrontés can be too much. Some 120,000 bottles were filled in December 2014.
The Tilia range is produced at Bodegas Esmeralda, one of the Catena family’s oldest wineries in Junin in the eastern part of Mendoza, a very poor zone, where there was no tradition for quality wines and the vineyards were trained in the pergola system. They blend in some fruit from the south part of the province that has higher acidity, as they aim at drinkable wines. The Tilia name comes from the tilo trees (linden) which are quite common there. In general, the Tilia wines see no or very little oak, trying to preserve the fruit character of the wine. They are closed with screw caps. Great value wines.
Unapologetically fun and distinctively fragrant, Torrontés is regarded as the signature white grape of Argentina. In many ways it bears a striking resemblance to Muscat (and in fact is an offspring of Muscat of Alexandria). Sommelier Secret—If you’re in search of a new summer sipper, look no further than Torrontés. These wines are always inexpensive, delightfully refreshing and are best enjoyed in the sunny outdoors at a picnic, poolside or on the porch.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.