With all the conventions I’ve been covering lately, book reviews and travel plans it’s been a while since I’ve written a one-bottle post. The other night, when I tasted a wine from winemaker Mitch Cosentino – it was the aromas that caught my attention first – I was enraptured. All I knew was that it was a white blend from Lodi. This is what we thought:
2022 AMT White Wine Blend, Alta Mesa, Lodi
The wine was a pale yellow color, clean. The aromas of peach, lime, lemonade, honeydew, iced tea, and sweet fruit cocktail, combined for a perfumy, delicate and tempting wine. My husband Eddie said it was “very floral” on the nose. The flavors matched what was promised from the aromas, as well as lots of minerality reminiscent of wet river rocks, and a mild acidity. The label didn’t show the varietals, was it a Vermentino, a Viognier, or what? Delicious. We bought four more bottles.
From the Website
Appellation: Alta Mesa
Composition: 90% Torrontes, 10% Sauvignon Blanc
Winemaking: The fruit was pressed right on delivery into a stainless tank where it was cold settled and fermented slowly for over two weeks and then allowed to develop on the lees for two months. That was then blended with 10% French oak aged Sauvignon Blanc for additional complexity.
Tasting notes: An aromatic white wine known for being dry, fresh, bright, balanced and pleasing to the palate. Scents of geranium, yellow rose blossoms, hints of jasmine and citrus that join with flavors of lychee, raw honey, minerals that finishes with a trace of green melon and a stone fruit in a dry finish.
Winemaker, Mitch Cosentino
Alc.: 13.2%
pH: 3.6
TA: 0.5%
RS.: 0.02% (extremely Dry)
I texted Mitch, telling him how much we loved the wine, and to ask who in Lodi is making a Torrontes. He replied, “I make one for the Scottos under their Reserve Torrontes from the same grapes that is made differently but still good. It was made in Stainless steel tank.
The AMT (Alta Mesa Torrontes) had 1/3 aged for two months in two-year-old French oak barrels. The balance might be a tiny bit different. I am not sure if there are others in Lodi. The grower does sell some of this fruit elsewhere to other wineries throughout the state but I’m not sure to who or where. Glad you like it. It is a fun aromatic white. At our release party it was also well received. Also, we poured a bottle of the new and our first Blanc de Blanc Brut Natural which we had not even announced. We sold out of the bottles we brought to the event.”
https://www.purecruwines.com/ If you can’t find the 2022 AMT White Wine Blend on the website email info@PureCruWines.com
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
