Comments on: Alta Vista Torrontes

By: SaltShaker

SaltShaker — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 16:45:00 +0000

No, it’s F.O.B. US$4.80. With importer/distributor/retailer markups, yeah, really it is more than $10 – probably mid to high teens, but it shouldn’t end up ridiculously priced.

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 11:00:00 +0000

I assume you mean 4.80 pesos a bottle? With with importer, distributor, and retailer mark-ups a case that leaves the winery at $22 from Argentina can cost the consumer $100 in New York or California….

Torrontes is stil unknown in the US so it is a good chance for consumers to take advantage of that “undiscovered” discount–even if it sells for a lot more than it does in Argentina!

By: SaltShaker

SaltShaker — Sun, 16 Apr 2006 07:31:00 +0000

Interesting, I don’t taste the oak on it, it just adds some nice weight to it.

On the issue of pricing, I’m always amazed – the Don David is (or so I’ve been told) the most expensive Torrontes exported from Argentina and it hits the U.S. for an F.O.B. of, I believe it’s $4.80 per bottle now. From my view they all should be under $10!

By: Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 21:49:00 +0000

Thanks saltshaker for your views.

I tasted the Don David Michel Torino Torrontes 2005 and it didn’t work for me. Although they used only 5 percent oak, I found that it masked the freshness, the zip of the unoaked versions. (Their chardonnay, by contrast, doesn’t see any oak) I told the winemaker that so we’ll see what influence I wield on future vintages.

Susana Balbo also makes a nice Torrontes that I’ve had in years gone by but I didn’t try it on this trip. Alta Vista Premium and Santa Julia are the best values that I tasted, both selling for under $10 in the US.

By: SaltShaker

SaltShaker — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 17:04:00 +0000

See if you can find the Don David Torrontes back home there. To mind pretty much the best we have to offer here. I’m also a big fan, just as sort of a daily table wine that I keep a few bottles of in the refrigerator, of the Etchart Privado Torrontes (they also make an excellent late harvest Torrontes Tardio).