Variety: 79% Malbec; 11% Bonarda; 10% Syrah
Region:Â Mendoza, Argentina
Cost: $15 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Meticulous assemblage of Malbec, with powerful Syrah and rediscovered Bonarda. Dark red with violet hues and crimson reflections. Generous aromas of fresh red fruit combine with notes of clove, smoke, vanilla, and toast. Seductive on the palate, with exquisitely smooth tannins that bring on a pleasureable and impetuous finish.
My Review: Warm weather in my house means firing up the grill and opening bottles of South American red wines to pair with grilled meats – it’s a hard existence. In this case we opened up the 2014 Trivento Amado Sur Malbec to go with some steak.
Deep red in color, the wine presented with aromas of blueberry and boysenberry. In the mouth the wine had flavors of tart, black cherry with a crisp, clean finish. The wine was a bit hot at first sip, so if you grab a bottle of this I do recommend letting it open up for a bit.
Paired with the steak (and some mushroom risotto) the wine was nice – the tart flavors paired well with the grilled flavors of the meat, and I appreciated the crisp, clean finish after the food was gone.
For $15 it’s a good value and avoids the traps of sub-$20 cheap cabernet that can be a fruit bomb. It won’t change your mind, but the unique grapes paired with the Malbec you’re familiar with is certainly worth exploring.
Editor’s Note: I received this wine as a free sample for review.