DOS MINAS 11 TORRONTES
The dos minas ("two chicks" in Argentine slang) of the name are Lucía Romero, who runs Bodega El Porvenir de los Andes in Cafayate, Argentina, and Heather Willens, representative of several small production Argentine wineries in the United States. Both are champions of wines from the mystical high-altitude desert landscapes of Cafayate, in the far northwest corner of Argentina. Both also believe that Torrontés is a wonderfully aromatic, food-friendly wine that is among the best of what Argentina has to offer to the world. So they decided to come together to create this small project to showcase the rugged, high-altitude Malbec and the elegant, balanced Torrontés that the best producers in Cafayate are capable of making. The grapes all come from El Porvenir's own meticulously tended, sustainably farmed vineyards at an incredible 6,300 feet above sea level, where the vines share space with cacti and desert animals. The wines are made with loving care and created to be spectacular values.Only 500 cases of 12 were made of this shining example of Torrontés, which is 100% stainless steel aged. The winery's 65 year-old Torrontés vines are trained in the age-old Italian "pergola" system in order to protect the grapes from the sunburn that is a risk in this region. Grapes are hand-harvested and then undergo a double manual selection to ensure the highest quality. The wine has all the enticing aromatic notes typical of Torrontés from this region: lychee, rose petals, and lime dance out of the glass. Yet the floral aromatics belie a refreshing dry finish and backbone of acidity that make this wine a perfect partner for various hard-to-match cuisines, including sushi and spicy Indian food. It is also the perfect spring or summer aperitif.
