Trivento Malbec 2008

It's been awhile so this will be fun.  It's also my favorite variety.

Look/Smell - Deep purple.  Citrus tart, orange and lemon symphony.

Taste - After resting for 15min deep tannin profile, orange's more prevalent than lemon.  Slightly vanilla on the way down and on the aftertaste which I'll attribute to the tannins.

Rating - 7
This one is great for the price.  It will satisfy you're craving for a deep, full red.

2007 Trivento Amado Sur

This wine is a juicy, rich Malbec that is bolstered by smaller amounts of Bonarda and Syrah.  This one was also in my price range and I also believe it's good luck.


Nose & Look - Dark warm purple/red.  Warm smell, plum, vanilla, oak.  


Taste - The vanilla and oak are first up, plum underneath, tannin aftertaste.


Rating - 7
This one is a little crazy with oak and vanilla up front, which is a nice change from the sweeter malbec taste.

2007 Terrazas de los Andes Malbec

This was a good price at a favorite specialty drink store.  For under $15 I believe this is the sweet spot for good wine.

Nose & Look - Deep purple.  Vanilla & licorice, with cherries.  Very confident but not overpowering.

Taste - Tannins up front give it body, with the licorice/vanilla throughout.  The aftertaste is smooth with cherries. 

Rating - This is a great wine at under $15 and will be a believable $30-$50 wine

2008 Tilia Malbec

I've become enamored with Malbecs and anything from south America, and I couldn't pass this one up because it's extra upside is it advertises being sustainably farmed.  Hope it's heritage is held up by its rating.

Nose and Look - Super deep red, doesn't let any light pass through.  I let it decant for ~30 min and I get a very rich wood and grape, with tannins in the background.  The wood and maybe vanilla are electrifying.

Taste - The oak and grape push through still, with the tannins more pronounced than in the nose.  The alcohol stays in the back which is always good for a higher alc. content wine.

Rating -7
It might be my bias towards reds and specifically Malbecs, but hey this is my review.  This is what a good ~$15 bottle of wine should taste like.  Tilia also makes a white so I might try that sometime.

Malbec Alberti 154

2008 Malbec Alberti 154 from Mendoza, Argentina. 
Aged 6 months in oak barrels, 14.5% alc. vol.

Now we are in for a nice afternoon.

Price - $22 for the bottle, right in my price range.  I feel this is the range that gives the most bang for buck.

Nose - Great sweet grape smell (duhh right, but this ones to the moon).  Low tannin smell, but you can easily detect its value.  Last value is floral, and its the undertone.  Very little alcohol to smell.

Taste - The grape nose becomes the undertone, being moved behind the tannins.  The florals come steadily, with it being that last taste you have, then nice soft tannins again.  Distinctly unalcoholic, which allows me to taste the notes better.

Grade - 8
It's hard to beat the value and what you get for it.  Great red that would pair well with and tomato based sauce and fatty meat.  Would overpower any other food i.e. fish  This wine should be in your go to wine holder.