Amalaya - Hope for a Miracle

Amalaya like it’s brother Colomé is part of the Hess Family Wine Estates. Amalaya is fairly new, founded in 2010 the word means ‘Hope for a Miracle’ at what began from an experiment at Colomé.

That experiment was to find alternative sourcing and varieties for Malbec and Torrontés to produce new wines. The land where the vineyards are located were virgin to grape vines. The land located in the northern Calchaqui Valley in the eastern foothills of the Andes at an altitude between 5,250 and 5,580 feet above sea level. The high altitude provides intense sun during the day and cool evenings that enables the grapes to retain their acidity and fruit characteristics.

Amalaya wines are based on the varieties known through-out Argentina, Malbec and Torrontés that are blended with other varieties to reach their full expression. This totally shines through on their Amalaya Blanco and Amalaya Malbec.

2016 Amalaya Blanco is a bled of 85% Torrontés and 15% Riesling aged in stainless steel for between 90 and 120 days. The wine had a very floral nose with lemon shining through. The palate was elegant with a mineral notes, hint of grapefruit and lemon. Crisp and refreshing on a hot summers night! This paired very well with Mexican food. Note: my friend Jen said this wine reminded her of a Sauvignon Blanc. Think of this wine as an alternative. SRP $12

2016 Amalaya Malbec is a blend of 85% Malbec, 10% Tannat and 5% Petit Verdot. Twenty five percent of this wine spent 8 months in French oak. This is the perfect burger wine!! Deep purple in color, the wine showed aromas of black cherry, chocolate, mocha and allspice when first opened. As the wine was able to breath, soft aromas of strawberries and raspberries began to show. On the palate red fruit with a hint of plum, tree bark, licorice and rounded out with soft tannins. SRP $16

Political Debate Wine Pairing

Last Monday was the debate. I don't get political because there are way to many people out there slapping their views in my face. When it was time for the debate Monday night I decided to pair a wine with what laid ahead.

I poured myself a glass of   2015 Amalaya Blanco which is a blend of 85% Torrontes and 15% Riesling and sat down on the couch.  Why the choice...well it was a wine that wasn't 100% of a varietal.  One varietal might just stand out in front of the other, they might fight or they might just play nice.

First a little about the wine. Amalaya although located in Argentina is part of the Hess Family Wines. Amalaya means "Hope for a Miracle" in the native language. The grapes are from the Calchaqui Valley that sits in the northwestern part of Argentina on the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains. The  vineyard is between 5,250 and 5,580 feet above sea level.  It a relatively dry climate with lots of sun, cool nights and soil that is rocky and sandy.

Right from the fridge to the glass the Riesling really dominated the wine. Stone fruit, minerality and lychee flavors with  acidity popping  right out and making a statement. Although both grapes have characters of stone fruit, my first impression of the wine was Riesling.  As the wine warmed in the glass and the evening debate began, the wine took on another character. The Torrontes began to show some notes of jasmine began to come forward, the racey acidity came down a notch with a nice white spice on the finish.

Well into my third glass with the debate almost over, the wine played nice. Everything came together in the glass. A touch of lime zest on the nose with white flowers  was new and it became a bit creamer on my palate with the citrus and stone fruit flavors blending nicely. The acidity sparkled in my mouth and the white spice on the finish made a statement.

Just like the debate, it goes back and forth.  However at the end in my glass was something very enjoyable.  I even left enough  for a glass to pair with my leftover Pumpkin Ravioli for dinner the next evening.