Amalaya translates to hope for a miracle’ in the indigenous language of the now extinct tribe, the Calchaqui. The winery is situated in Cafayate, Calchaqui Valley in Salta in the far north of Argentina at nearly 1,828 metres above sea level. It is a part of the Hess Family Estates and is run with the same dedication to quality, sustainability and social responsibility as the other Hess Estates. All of the Amalaya wines are fruit driven in style, with a finesse that unites them. These wines offer incredible value for their quality and truly reflect their sense of place.
Vineyards
Both the Torrontes and Riesling grapes were grown on the Finca San Isidro and Finca Las Mercdes vineyards. These are located in the Cafayate Valley in the very heart of the Calchaqui Valley, distinguished for being the highest wine region in the world. The climate here is very dry, with just 150mm of rain in an average year and a large diurnal range of around 20°C. The soils here are rocky, poor, and sandy, so the roots of the vines are forced to dig deep to find the vital nutrients and water they need, which in turn results in a huge concentration of flavour within the fruit.
Vinification
The grapes went through a double selection process, firstly in the vineyard and then again on the sorting table at the winery. Fermentation was slow using selected yeasts, at low temperatures to retain the varietal fruit character. The wine was aged in stainless steel tanks for three months and then a further two months in bottle.
Tasting Notes
Intense gold in colour with hints of green. On the nose this wine is intense and complex with aromas of citrus and green apple, which is typical of Torrontes. Delicate and silky on the palate, with great freshness and crisp acidity on the distinctly mineral finish.
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