Nieto Senetiner Torrontes 2015
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Wong
Wilfred
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
For more than two decades, the wine industry has looked at Torrontés—the iconic white wine grape from Argentina—as merely a fun variety, like low-priced Chenin Blancs and Rieslings brought out for pool parties without food. Yet like the other aforementioned grapes, Torrontés, when grown on its ideal sites, can be pretty amazing. The 2015 Nieto Senetiner is a standout. Fresh with flowers in the nose, yet serious with a mineral accent, this wine fills out the palate with drive and energy. I would love to pair this wine with Hunan twice-cooked pork. Drinks very well now. (Tasted: June 17, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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2013-
Wong
Wilfred
Nieto Senetiner is one of Mendoza’s oldest wineries, founded in 1888 when Italian immigrants planted the first vineyards in Vistalba, a sub-region in Mendoza’s primera zona Luján de Cuyo. Since then, Nieto has produced exceptional wines from classic Argentine varietals that thrive in the unique, high altitude terroir of the Andean foothills.
Sourcing fruit from its three long-standing estate vineyards in Luján de Cuyo (Vistalba, Agrelo, and Alto Agrelo) and premier sites in the Uco Valley, today Nieto produces some of Argentina’s most consistently awarded Malbecs.
Nieto’s signature Malbec showcases fruit exclusively from Luján de Cuyo vineyards. Its Don Nicanor wines are produced at the historic winery in Vistalba using fruit selected from sites in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley to create a more elegant and intense Malbec style.
In addition to its rich heritage, Nieto is investing in the future with sustainable winemaking practices, and under the guidance of a young, innovative winemaking team led by Santiago Mayorga and consultant Paul Hobbs.
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.
The Salta region in northern Argentina is home to world’s highest vineyards. Near the town of Payogasta, the Colomé Altura Máxima vineyard is planted at 10,206 feet in elevation.
Salta is part of the Calchaquí Valley, which benefits from more than 300 days of sun per year, subjecting its vines to considerable ultraviolet radiation. The valley experiences strong high altitude winds, even in the “lower” vineyards, which are planted at 5,413 feet. Because of these elevations and resulting extreme conditions, vines produce lower yields and thicker-skinned grapes, resulting in concentrated, aromatic and well-structured wines.
In a truly unique region, the highly aromatic variety, Torrontes, thrives; intense sun exposure allows full ripening, while cooling winds maintain the grapes’ acidity levels and phenolic balance.
Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda, Syrah, and, particularly, Tannat have the most potential among reds.
Upscale hotels, beautiful colonial architecture, a majestic Andean backdrop and impressive food and wine make the area attractive among tourists as well.
Salta is the fourth most important Argentine wine-producing region after Mendoza, San Juan, and La Rioja. Its oldest vineyards were planted in 1862.