Amalaya, Calchaquí Valley Torrontés/Riesling
Country: Argentina Region: Cafayate Valley Vintage: 2023
Variety: Torrontés/Riesling Colour: White
Producer: Amalaya
PRODUCER
Amalaya translates as ‘hope for a miracle’ in the indigenous
language of the now extinct tribe, the Calchaquí. The winery is
situated in Cafayate, Calchaquí Valley in Salta in the far north of
Argentina at nearly 1,828 metres above sea level. It is a part of the
Hess Family Estates and is run with the same dedication to quality,
sustainability and social responsibility as the other Hess Estates. All
of the Amalaya wines are fruit driven in style, with a finesse that
unites them. These wines offer incredible value for their quality and
truly reflect their ‘sense of place‘.
VINEYARDS
The Torrontés and Riesling grapes were grown on the Finca San
Isidoro and Finca Las Mercedes vineyards. These are located in
the Cafayate Valley in the very heart of the Calchaqui Valley,
distinguished for being the highest wine region in the world. The
climate here is very dry, with just 150mm of rain in an average year
and a huge diurnal temperature change of around 20°C. The soils
here are rocky, poor and sandy so the roots of the vines are
forced to dig deep to find the vital nutrients and water they need,
which in turn results in a huge concentration of flavour within the
fruit.
VINIFICATION
The grapes went through a double selection process, firstly in the
vineyard and then again on the sorting table at the winery. The
grapes are pressed without any maceration. A slow fermentation
took place using selected yeasts, for around 30 days at a
controlled temperature of 14°C, which helped to retain the
varietal fruit character. The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks
for three months before a further two months in bottle.
TASTING NOTES
This wine is pale gold in colour with youthful highlights. On the
nose, there are intense aromas of grapefruit and lemon peel,
which is typical of Torrontés, balanced by a touch of minerality
and floral notes. On the palate, it has a crisp acidity with a long,
mineral finish.
