The yang half of wine maven Brian Smith's Loca Linda label, this torrentes opens with an audacious herbal/floral nose, quickly revealing smoother tropical fruit and bright acid after the first couple quaffs. The wine hails from La Rioja, Argentina, where sandy, pebbly soils are said to be ideal for the variety. Smith aptly sums up his creation as "sunshine in a glass," and it is certainly best enjoyed during sunny summer evenings on your patio or at your favorite campsite. Its broad, smooth palate also permits a wide variety of food pairings. Try it with tapas, Thai or Middle-Eastern.
The novel one-liter format is a value for more than just the extra wine. According to Smith: "Our lightweight ‘Uno Liter ’ bottle saves a couple of pounds of green glass per case. The One Liter bottle also holds 33% more wine than the average 750ml. More wine & less waste." $16.99
