great value Organic Wines

A Pair of Good Value Wines from South AmericaAt Aroma Thyme Bistro lately we’ve been carrying the Santa Digna Chardonnay, one of the massive Torres wine company’s offerings from Chile. The Torres family, long established in Penedes, Spain, expanded to Chile in the late 1970s and now produce quite a range of varietal winesthere. The vineyards are in the Rio Clara section of Curico, a bit further south and cooler than the central valley of Chile. Stainless steel tanks are used for the three weeks of primary fermentation, and then half the wine goes through a month in oak. This chardonnay sells for $8 or less in stores and pours with a nice, deep yellow gold color in the glass. The nose has the mix of mangoes and apples that is to be expected from Chilean chardonnay along with vanilla notes from the oak treatment. A nicely balanced chardonnay, good with fish and a steal at the price. For something completely different try the Santa Julia Torrontes 2003 from the Mendoza section of Argentina. Mendoza lies just a hundred miles or so from Santiago, Chile, but it’s a world away, because in between are the Andes Mountains, twenty thousand feet high and covered in snow. Mendoza lies in the rain shadow of the mountains and the vineyards survive on irrigation derived from snow melt. Torrontes is a spanish varietal, little heard of today, even in Spain.It comes from the Ribeiro of Galicia, but you’ll have to search really hard to find Spanish Torrontes. In Argentina, however, it remains the number one white wine grape. And in Argentina it makes unique wine. At Aroma Thyme we have the Santa Julia Torrontes 2003. As soon as you put your nose to a glass of this wine you sense something different is coming. There’s a strong floral aspect, with notes that are reminiscent of Muscats, and the flavors follow through with ripe, but unusual fruit combinations, there’s a grapey aspect, but there’s a hint of pomegranate and a citrus flavor as well. The acidity is above average, but the wine is balanced and easy to drink. At something like $7 in stores this is a wine well worth trying. If you like it you’ll have added a new varietal to your personal list.

Chris Rowley

Wine and Beer Guide

Aroma Thyme Bistro

165 Canal St

Ellenville, NY 12428

845-647-3000