New Age White Wine NV

New Age White Wine NV

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontés (90%), Sauvignon Blanc (10%)
Alcohol Content: 9.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: August 2012
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Pale stray gold in color, this wine has aromas of apples, caramel, and candied fruit. Slightly fizzy and rather sweet on the palate, the fruit flavors tend towards apple and pear, having an almost juice-like character to them. There is no finish.

Our rating: We don't always get it, but we're usually prepared for one element to strike us as unusual in a bottle of wine. But this one hit us with two: fizzy and sweet, neither of which we associate at all with Torrontés, the primary grape in this wine. As such, we would consider this far more of a party-style wine than a food one … though we can see serving it at a Sunday brunch. We didn't dislike it but then again we were totally unprepared for it as well. We score it about Average. (Note: We noticed afterwards that the wine as being marketed more as a cocktail, called the "Tincho", served over ice with a wedge of lime.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: A light yellow-green colored wine, with fruity and floral aromas of great intensity. Balanced acidity leads to soft, semi-sweet and slightly effervescent flavors and mouth feel.

Winery website: Quintessential Wines: New Age.

Mendoza Station Torrontes "Seleccion Especial" 2010

Mendoza Station Torrontes "Seleccion Especial" 2010

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontés (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $8.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Greenish-gold in color, this wine has aromas of citrus (tangerine comes to mind here) and flowers. The fruit flavor on the palate has a tart orange, maybe orange rind, character to it, but is nicely balanced. The finish, however, is slightly unbalanced, a bit astringent and incongruous.

Our rating: "Mendoza Station" is a relatively new label of inexpensive wines. The "Seleccion Especial" variant is, we suppose, intended to be a higher quality wine. But we have to say, we don't see it here. We tend to think of this varietal as being a somewhat "soft" ABC wine, but there's nothing but edges in this example. We served our bottle with an appetizer platter, and to be fair, it paired well enough with pretty much everything there. We rate it Average, but we think the "regular" version of this wine is just as good. Last year we also rated the standard 2009 vintage Average … but — and it's a big "but" — that was for a 1.5L bottle, which is priced the same as this 750ml bottle.

Taste profile from the winemaker: None

Winery website: None found.

Conquista de Argentina Torrontés 2009

Conquista de Argentina Torrontés 2009

Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontés (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2011
Purchase Price: $5.99 (750ml bottle)

Our review: Straw-gold in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit with notes of honey and spice. Somewhat smoky on the palate, the flavors tend toward tree fruit (apple, pear) and their cider and perry derivatives. The finish is lengthy, and extends the characters exhibited on the palate.

Our rating: This is a rather complex wine that tastes more expensive than it is. We enjoyed our bottle with grilled tuna and vegetables, a nice if not altogether inspired pairing. We think the wine needs a more flavorful, more substantial dish to bring out its full character. The smokiness may appeal to some consumers, but it's something we tend to shy away from in our ABC wines. We rate it Average overall, but definitely worth a try at this price point. (We had forgotten we had reviewed the 2008 vintage until we were preparing this post. The reviews are surprisingly similar, though we scored the previous year's vintage Above Average. In a kind of ironic twist, we recommended that you not pair it with seafood last year, yet that's exactly the meal we chose to serve our bottle with this year.)

Taste profile from the winemaker: Aromas of apricots, honey and spices followed by a refreshing palate of tropical fruit and melon.

Winery website: None found.

Trapiche Torrontés 2008

Trapiche Torrontés 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: December 2010
Purchase Price: $6.99

Our review: Yellow-gold in color, this wine has a pleasant blend of citrus and tropical fruit aromas, with slight herbal and floral notes. There is a nice acidic balance at first, the fruit flavors quite expressive on the palate. But into the finish it is less harmonious, a somewhat bitter character emerging that tends to mask the other elements present.

Our rating: If it weren't for the rather odd finish on this wine, we'd have rated it quite highly. It's well-rounded, and food-friendly; we suggest serving it with Asian cuisines as it could stand up to chicken, pork, or seafood dishes, anything from mild to spicy. But the finish is really quite incongruous here, not bad necessarily, just not complimentary, knocking our score down to just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Yellow-greenish color, with golden hints. Flower and citrus aromas. Fresh in the mouth. Elegant, well balanced wine."

Winery website: Trapiche | Argentina.

Mendoza Station Torrontes 2009

Mendoza Station Torrontes 2009
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99 (1.5 L)

Our review: Quite pale, this silvery straw-colored wine has aromas of apple and green apple with slight herbal notes. Initially quite fruity on the palate, the flavors quickly become somewhat unbalanced, almost separated into multiple components that aren't harmonious. The finish has some mineral character to it.

Our rating: Wine doesn't get much cheaper than this, and while this example isn't likely to win any awards, it's not altogether terrible. It almost seems carelessly crafted, that the potential may be there but isn't realized. We consumed the bottle over three days, serving it with a variety of foods, and all paired reasonable well. And while that's usually a plus for us, here it simply reminded us of how generic this wine is. Score-wise, we were a little surprised to discover when we did the arithmetic, it rated on the very low side of Average. So maybe it's better than we think.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Conquista Torrontes 2008

Conquista Torrontes 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: September 2010
Purchase Price: $5.99

Our review: This golden-colored wine is lightly fragrant, with notes of tropical fruit (papaya, mango) and honey. Smooth, almost creamy, on the palate, the flavor profile is similar to the nose, though a distinct spiciness is also present. The finish has an "oak" character to it, long and deep.

Our rating: This wine has many interesting facets to it … yet seems slightly flawed. The oakiness here -- and we're not even sure this one touched any oak, so we're using that term generically -- softens the wine somewhat but there's an underlying bitterness that we didn't appreciate. We'd recommend pairing it with almost any poultry dish, and even pork dishes, though we think it wouldn't do well with fish. Still, we rate it Above Average. Priced at just $6, it's definitely worth a try -- especially since this continues to be a rather unusual varietal in the US.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Aromas of apricots, honey and spices followed by a refreshing palate of tropical fruit and melon."

Winery website: None found.

Norton Torrontes 2008

Norton Torrontes 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: July 2010
Purchase Price: $7.99

Our review: Medium gold in color, this wine is very floral, much more so than of fruit (a hint of peach or apricot); there's also a touch of honey in the nose. Quite smooth on the palate, the flavor has more spice character than fruit. The finish is very long and continues to develop.

Our rating: This is a deeply complex wine, one not easily broken into constituent parts. We enjoyed it, but we mis-paired it, serving it with stir-fried chicken and rice; we think pairing it with roasted poultry would be much better (though we did like it with the rice). An unusual wine and one that will probably have your guests asking more about. It's a little too "oaky" for our taste, still we rate it well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Greenish yellow in color with tinges of golden. Very perfumed prevailing fruity and flowery aromas, such as white peach, roses and jasmine. Pleasant on the palate and well balanced."

Winery website: Bodega Norton.

La Vuelta Torrontés 2009

La Vuelta Torrontés 2009
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontés (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of fresh tropical fruit (papaya, pineapple, banana) with just a hint of spice. Rich and smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are accompanied by a mild minerality; the acid balance is just about ideal. The finish is very lengthy, rounded, with considerable depth and character.

Our rating: This is a delicious example of this characteristic Argentine varietal. Enjoy as an aperitif, serve with roasted chicken, potatoes and onions, or delight the guests at your next party with a wine they most likely haven't had before. A very good value, we rate it Above Average, nearly Excellent.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

La Yunta Torrontes 2008

La Yunta Torrontes 2008
Origin: Valle de Famatina, La Rioja, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 12.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: March 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Aromas of peach and candied fruit with significant spice notes, maybe even tea, are exhibited by this yellow-gold wine. Pleasant and smooth on the palate, the fruit flavors are, however, somewhat muted. A rather aggressive acidity develops then moderates into the finish, which is of considerable length and depth.

Our rating: This is a well-rounded wine that can be paired with a wide variety of dishes, but probably works best with lighter meals of poultry or even pork. Consider serving it with chicken satays, which is how we enjoyed our bottle. We rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Notably aromatic of green melon and white peach. It has balanced citrus flavor with a touch of French oak to provide a crisp yet lingering finish. Wonderful as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to seafood or poultry."

Winery website: Southern Wine Group (importers).

Tamari Reserva Torrontes 2008

Tamari Reserva Torrontes 2008
Origin: Fatima Valley, La Rioja, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: February 2010
Purchase Price: $10.99

Our review: Light gold in color, this wine has expressive aromas of tropical fruit with some spice and floral notes. Nicely fruitful on the palate, there is a bit of heat (slightly unbalanced acidity) that develops into the finish, which itself is quite spicy with a hint of nuts.

Our rating: Not a wine to be served as an apertif, it is, however, reasonably food friendly. We actually enjoyed our bottle with pork, an unusual choice maybe, but not a bad one. Still, poultry is probably the best pairing for this rather robust wine. Priced a bit on the high side for what it is, we rate it just Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Color: Intense yellow with greenish hues. Aroma: Delicate and refined aromas of white grapefruit, white flowers such as jasmine, roses and orange blossom, and some fruit notes like custard apple and apricot. Taste: Excellent alcohol-acidity-sugar ratio; well balanced. It's a very flavorful wine."

Winery website: Terlato Wines International.

Maipe Torrontes 2008

Maipe Torrontes 2008
Origin: Salta, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light golden yellow with aromas of citrus, spice, and honey. The fruit flavor profile on the palate has some tropical fruit character accompanied by a somewhat aggressive acidity. The finish is slightly chalky, relatively brief but otherwise unremarkable.

Our rating: An interesting wine, but paradoxically not a memorable one. We served our bottle with grilled chicken tenderloins, and believe it could pair nicely with most mildly seasoned poultry or even pork dishes. Our rating: on the high side of Average.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: None found.

Andeluna Torrontes 2008

Andeluna Torrontes 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.8%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Light green in color with expressive herbal and citrus aromas, this wine introduces a crisp acidity on the palate. There is little fruit flavor present, however, and the finish is quite spicy, even a bit hot.

Our rating: There are a number of interesting facets to this wine, but our overall impression is not altogether positive. We served our bottle with grilled fish filets, a good choice, but it might pair better with oysters or other shellfish. On balance, we rate it about Average on the scorecard, but we suspect this is a wine that people will either love or hate.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Has a very good body and a medium structure with marked freshness and acidity. Delightful aromas of white flowers, jasmine, peach, apricot and grapefruit combine with flavors of tropical fruits, citrus and spices to produce a refreshingly exquisite wine with a long finish."

Winery website: Andeluna Cellars.

San Telmo Esencia Torrontes 2009

San Telmo Esencia Torrontes 2009
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: January 2010
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Nearly colorless with straw highlights, this wine is lightly fragrant with aromas of tropical fruits. The fruit flavors on the palate are accompanied by a gentle minerality. The finish is fairly long but unremarkable.

Our rating: This is a very nice example of this varietal and at an attractive price point. Think light dishes when pairing this wine: chilled appetizers, a crisp salad, cold chicken sandwich, and the like. It's a nice change of pace from the more typical ABC wines, and we rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Intensely aromatic and refreshing, entices you with delightful floral and orange peel notes. Pale yellow hue shows soft glimmers of green. On the palate, the crisp orange, grapefruit and tropical fruit flavors are accented with jasmine and beautifully balanced with acidity."

Winery website: San Telmo Wines (a unit of Diageo Wines).

Alamos Torrontes 2008

Alamos Torrontes 2008
Origin: Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: December 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Aromas of white peach and flowers are exhibited by this pale golden wine. A bit of heat accompanies the fruit flavors with herbal character on the palate, which has considerable depth. The finish is lengthy and pleasant with a brisk acidity.

Our rating: We served this wine with appetizers and it was versatile enough to pair well with most. Though reportedly unaoked, there is a complexity present that is often associated with aged wines. We rather enjoyed this wine, and rate it Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker (from the label): "Lively notes of citrus and peach fruit interwoven with delicate layers of jasmine blossom and fresh herbs. Light and fresh on the palate with excellent balance and finishing with bright, crisp adicity."

Winery website: Bodega Catena Zapata.

Santa Julia Organica Torrontes 2008

Santa Julia Organica Torrontes 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: October 2009
Purchase Price: $9.99

Our review: Golden straw in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (melon, pineapple, banana) with distinct spice notes. Of light- to moderate-body on the palate, the fruit flavors are expressive, and nicely balanced with a crisp acidity. The finish is equally pleasing, complex with depth of character.

Our rating: This is a wonderful wine, full of flavor and character. We served our bottle with broiled chicken and rice pilaf, with which it paired quite nicely. This isn't a common varietal in the US, but look for it when trying something different, and this winery in particular. We rate this wine Excellent.

We've enjoyed previous, non-organic, vintages almost as much, rating the Santa Julia Torrontes 2005 Above Average, nearly Excellent; and the Santa Julia Torrontes 2006 well Above Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Colour: Silver yellow with brilliant pale green reflections. Aroma: Notes of rose, orange peel, white peaches, fruits salad, chamomile and other aromatic herbs. Flavor: A fresh and balanced flavor."

Winery website: Familia Zuccardi.

Phebus Torrontes 2008

Phebus Torrontes 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: June 2009
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Yellow-gold in color, this wine has a primary citrus aroma with distinct herbal and spice notes. Rather tart on the palate, the citrus flavors are accompanied with a brisk minerality. The finish is lengthy, but possibly a little too dry.

Our rating: This would make for a fine dinner wine, which can confidently be paired with a wide variety of cuisines, though it probably works best with poultry. We previously rated the Phebus Torrontes 2007 Excellent; this particular vintage rates slightly lower, Above Average nearly Excellent, and is a great value at this price.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Light yellow colour. Delicate aromas of white peach, grapefruit and jasmine. On the palate the wine is fresh and very elegant. "

Winery website: Fabre Montmayou.

Lo Tengo Torrontes 2007

Lo Tengo Torrontes 2007
Origin: Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: June 2009
Purchase Price: $8.99

Our review: Light gold in color, this wine has aromas of tropical fruit (guava) and honey with distinct floral notes. The fruit flavors are moderated on the palate somewhat with a mild acidity, but are nicely balanced. The finish has good complexity with just a touch of smokiness.

Our rating: We enjoy this varietal, but unfortunately don't see it very often. We served this bottle with chicken and pasta in a creamy sauce, with which it paired very well. We previously rated the Lo Tengo Torrontes 2005 just Average; this vintage is better.

No taste profile from the winemaker found.

Winery website: Norton.

Mendoza Station Torrontes 2008

Mendoza Station Torrontes 2008
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.0%
Bottle Closure: Synthetic Cork
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $5.99

Our review: Tropical fruit aromas with notes of vanilla and spice are exhibited by this wine. The fruit flavors are a bit flat on the palate, which itself is unbalanced, being ever so slightly on the sweet side. The finish is marred with a somewhat chalky character, though is otherwise lengthy and of interest.

Our rating: Because this varietal is so uncommon here, we look forward to trying a new one. This particular wine isn’t among the best, but it isn’t bad either. And at just $6 it is a real value. We enjoyed our bottle with grilled chicken tenders, a good choice. Average.

Taste profile from the winemaker (from the bottle): Rose petals excel with hints to jasmine combined with orange skin notes. On the palate, it has a rich full-bodied texture, balancing acidity with summer fruit flavors. Enjoy as an aperitif or partnered with grilled vegetables or seafood dishes."

Winery website: None found.

Santa Julia Torrontes 2006

Santa Julia Torrontes 2006
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Screw Cap
Purchase Date: May 2009
Purchase price: $4.99

Our review: Vibrant aromas of citrus fruit with light spice and faint floral notes are presented by this wine. The flavors on the palate are of a similar combination, interesting and complex, and accompanied by a brisk acidity that becomes increasingly unbalanced into the finish. The extended finish itself has a spicy, slightly bitter character to it.

Our rating: This wine was in the bargain bin at our local store. We had previously rated the Santa Julia Torrontes 2005 vintage quite highly and thought this to be price too good to pass up. We served the wine with grilled panini, a fine choice, though it should pair nicely with a wide variety of foods. Not as good as the previous year, still we rate it well Above Average. And at $5 a bottle, a steal.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "Silver yellow with brilliant pale green reflections. Notes of rose, orange peel, white peaches, fruits salad, chamomile and other aromatic herbs. A fresh flavor and light body with flavors of rose grapefruit, ripe fruits like peaches and pears. A balanced wine with great fineness in aromas and flavors."

Winery website: Familia Zuccardi.

Rutini Trumpeter Torrontes 2006

Rutini Trumpeter Torrontes 2006
Origin: Mendoza, Argentina
Blend: Torrontes (100%)
Alcohol Content: 13.5%
Bottle Closure: Natural Cork
Purchase Date: January 2009
Purchase Price: $11.99

Our review and rating: A soft golden in color, this wine displays bright vibrant aromas of tropical fruit with some floral notes. Smooth on the palate, the flavors have a hint of sweetness before a round, nicely balanced acidity develops. The finish is complex, adding some earthy spice character to the evolving fruit flavors, and is of considerable length. Our score: A fine wine to serve at an elegant dinner party. Excellent.

Taste profile from the winemaker: "An intensely aromatic and distinctive wine with predominant aromas of white peaches, and hints of jasmine and rose. This summery white wine displays a pleasant freshness with citrus notes and a long, full finish."

Winery website: Rutini Wines.