Wine Tasting Notes of Torrontes 2012 by Astica from Cuyo Argentina

It's our Second dance with Argentina wines: a white Torrontes vintaged in 2012 by Astica from the Cuyo region (wine-producing, mountainous area of central-west Argentina). I got this wine together with last week's Malbec from the Union Square Wine&Spirits for merely $5.99 plus tax. One unique thing that calls for my attention about this wine is the cork. The producer didn't use traditional wood cork, instead, it adopts the rubbery cork which has a lighter touch and is easier to screw inside. However, the closure is not as tight as the traditional wood cork from my experience. Take a look at the close-up of the cork and the draw of the map of South America. It's a cork with an Argentina heart. ;) Just like Malbec, Torrontes is another emblematic grape varietal from Argentina. While Malbec is mainly used to produce red wine, Torrontes dominates white wine in Argentina. 

Enough intro, let's observe, smell and taste! 

Sight
Clear and limpid. Almost as transparent as water.
Light yellow with a slight hint of fresh verdancy green.


Smell
The first smell is alluring enough - moderate, not so intensive, but irresistible pleasant smell of minerals and rocks that are rich in mineral substance. Underneath the raw natural minerals is the aroma of ripe sweet tangerine. It's amazing because this unique mix of crispy sweet fruit and raw and natural minerals got my tongue to stimulate fluid, and seriously stimulated my appetite!
The fragrance faded away after 10 seconds or so. Gently shake it and another flow of smell came out. This time it made me think of luscious vanilla creme, still accomplished by the acor of minerals - you have to smell it to understand this interesting mix and how it can make your mouth watering.


Taste
Not surprisingly, it tastes fresh, refreshing, crispy and piercing (not sure if this is an appropriate word...but the the wine body gives your tongue a feeling of piercing cold), which can be attributed to its nice and high acidity.
There was a highlight of alcohol, which makes sense since it is a young wine with 13% alcohol content.
Rich and fine minerals. During the middle phrase of tasting, it's like my tongue licking a rock wall that has been washed under wind and rain over the years. However, personal opinion, if the tannin is a little bit stronger and lasts a little bit longer, the wine would be amazing.
It should go well with light cooked seafood, spicy dishes and slight oily food.

Cheers!
Cyan