Medium purple color; plum, blackberry, licorice on the nose; blackberry, blueberry, tomato, plum, black cherry, chocolate, spice on the palate.
Dry; medium body; full and juicy in the mouth with layers of red and black fruit. Soft, velvety tannin and acidity. Very easy drinker. Some oak, but more than half finished in concrete, which contributes to its silky smoothness. There is an intriguing pinch of salt on the long finish. Blend of 70% malbec, 20% bonarda, 10% syrah; 13% ABV.
You likely are familiar with malbec, likely less so with bonarda. Bonarda is Argentina’s second-most planted red grape (behind malbec). It has soft tannin, low alcohol, velvety palate, intense color, and fresh red fruit aromas. Behaves like an exotic merlot in the blend. Bonarda is rare grape in Savoie, France, where it is called douce noir, and also can be found in California, where it is called charbono, but almost all bonarda grapes grow in Argentina.
Trivento’s name means “Three Winds”—a reference to the three winds (Polar, Zonda, Sudestada) that sweep through Mendoza and are a distinguishing feature of the region’s climate and environment. The brand was established in he mid-1990s by the Chilean wine giant Concha y Toro. Mendoza, where the grapes were grown for this effort is Argentina’s premier wine regions.
Trivento is part of Excelsior Wine Estates, a sales and marketing partnership of Banfi Vintners and Concha y Toro to sell in the U.S. market. Excelsior is the exclusive distributor of the Chilean wines of Concha y Toro, Trivento, also California wines Little Black Dress and Five Rivers.
Trivento Amado Sur, Mendoza 2016 is very smooth, gentle easy drinker. Balanced, very approachable, fresh, tasty. If you enjoy malbec, you will enjoy the complexity and depth the bonarda and syrah add to this solid winner. Pair with rich steaks and roasts; pasta dishes with rich sauces; wild game; barbecued lamb, beef, or pork; hot game pies; spicy, fruit-based sauces and sides, farmhouse cheddar and other flavorful cheeses. Over-delivers for the price. $11-16
