It was a bright sunny winter afternoon, when the sun hangs low in the sky and fills my kitchen with brilliant light that burns away the chill outside.
I had finished a few projects around the house and decided to indulge in a light lunch. I had been waiting for the right moment to taste this wine again and found some nice nibbles to go with it, Gigante beans, roasted Pistachios and a nice wedge of Manchego cheese.
This wine offered an entirely different and wonderful experience out of a proper wine glass, compared to the tiny plastic cup at the original tasting. What struck me first was the utter purity and delicacy of this wine and then the enticing yet gentle floral aromas and beautiful lush white fruit flavors.
The combination of food and wine was perfect.
Torrontés could be compared to the complex aroma and flavors of Gewurztraminer or Muscat but in some productions has the texture and flavor of Sauvignon Blanc. This Torrontés by Alex Elman is full and rich with no single element overpowering. The deep flavors of the beans with olive oil and garlic, and the salty flavors of the nuts and cheese made my palate very happy as I rested my weary muscles after strenuous morning Yoga and a good days work around the house.
Tasting wine in the right glass makes all the difference. The un-educated often argue with me on this point, but once you try it yourself you will be convinced. Even an everyday wine glass pales when compared to a glass specifically designed for the wine.
This is one of the reasons I am not crazy about the many wine store tastings that use little plastic cups. No wine shows well in those containers. However, there are stores who do it right like Amanti Vino, Magnolias and Gary's and pour there tasting in good glasses.
The Gigantes came from Whole Foods, Pistachios from Trader Joes, and Manchego from Kings.
