See how 5 Argentinian Torrontes go down
It is all things considered not well known because the grape is not grown in numbers in other countries. Its exclusivity makes it the signature cadaverous wine of Argentina. Prices are good, too.My wine-tasting alliance compared five Torrontes from Argentina. We liked better the ones that didn’t have too much of the scent or floral notes.
• 2009 Zolo Mendoza Torrontes, $13.99. The nose smelled like Sugary Tarts candy, with flavors of strawberry, sour raspberry and vitamin C. That palate was different, lively, light and well balanced. It was freshly floral but not immoderately so. This was our favorite.
• 2008 Tilia Salta Torrontes, $10.99. Pleasantly less fragrant than the others, this wine offered scents of lemon, currants, fennel and country-like peppercorns. It was much mellower on the palate, with delicate rose-petal flavors. Charming and easy to drink, the Tilia was voted to second chore. The price made it a good value.
• 2009 Conquista Mendoza Torrontes, $9.99. The arrangement smelled like a flower basket, full of hyacinth, potpourri and lilac, profit scents of pear, banana, papaya and coconut oil. The wine tasted like coconut oil, grapefruit, lemon, and overwhelmingly floral flavors. It had grievous acidity. A panel member said it smelled like grandma’s bathroom.
• 2008 Pascual Toso Mendoza Torrontes, $13.99. The aromas reminded us of matchstick (which in the course of time went away), ginger ale, baby aspirin, lemon oil and petrol. The palate had a wonderful lemon tartness, not so perfumy as the perfume. The palate was much better than the aroma.
Food celebration
Argenta Hawk had brats out, Lindsey’s was doling up pork ribs and sweetmeat potato tarts, Starving Artist Café was serving Arkansas watermelon and Feta salad. I caught spot of Donnie Ferneau whipping up plates with his highly-praised Braised Pork Tacos with Jalapeno, Cheddar and Keen on Corn Slaw — there was already a line for that. I got big thumbs-up on that from Eric Francis and Kelly Bradley.So, what did Stalker and I have? We went for Trail’s End BBQ’s beef brisket sandwich… which Nimrod ate all the beef out of. My photo didn’t come out, darn it! We also picked up one of Hunka Pie’s pear ginger mini-pies to take about with us. Man, Chris is a genius.
The music was playing, people were enjoying the comestibles and just chatting away. It was so nice...
But you could also use peaches, plums, nectarines or berries, and one of my favorite drop-off tarts is made with frangipane and pears.









