Really bright purple in the glass, nice legs too!  On the nose I get candied plum, oak shavings, blackberry preserves.  On the palate it is quite tart, but interesting.  Plums, ganache, chocolate dust and curt tannins all hit me on the initial.  The mid palate is where the tannic grip takes hold.  Dark stone fruits galore and an astringent tea make up the main profile.  On the finish this wine gives me black olives, plums, tea and that tannic bite which lasts for over thirty seconds.  Not a bad drop.  89 points from me and 5 stars for this $10 Malbec.  Drink now with hearty dishes or cellar medium term for a smoother drinking wine.  Salut….

Slightly less opaque than what I was imagining for this Malbec.  Good color though.  The nose has a candy note, some fresh oak and some blackberries.  I’ll admit, the candy part does not appeal to my taste.  On the palate it is quite refreshing, light in body but thick in flavor.  Black berries, kirsch and bramble. There is a chewiness that I am enjoying.  This wine is very dark fruit forward.  Structure-wise it is built for immediate quaffing with very little tannic backbone, very gentle acidity and an easy mouthfeel.  It is not complex but offers easy enjoyment and gets 87 points from me.  For the price under $10 it’s a decent summer barbecue wine that I might take into the fall as an excellent part of coq au vin, even beef burgundy.  I think it would work quite well.  4 stars.  Salut….

Dark purple, barely see through.  The nose is somewhat candied, purple licorice, plum cake and Christmas pudding.  On the palate it shows off much more pleasant notes of black currants, iodine and fruit cake.  The mid palate is quite abrupt as are the mild tannins that permeate.  The finish is not as smooth as the front half and lacks any acidity.  Overall this is a pleasant wine that gets 87 points. The pro’s went much higher, 91 points in one case.  I just did not get the same level of satisfaction unfortunately.  $18 make it a 3 point wine for me.  Salut….

I have been a fan of Trivento for a while now and have reviewed several vintages of the Golden Reserve Malbec.  This one is particularly good and I am glad I bought a few bottles for the cellar.  I suggest you do too!  Almost inky in the glass, it is brooding and alluring.  On the nose I’m getting blackberry, sweet plums and a touch of cedar plank.  The palate is very much dominated by black fruits and a bold tannic attack.  The blackberry component really shines through on the midpalate with a core of tannins that grip the gums.  Acidity is present but the tannins are very fresh and dominate.  The finish is medium long with a jam component and some chocolate dust.  The ever present tannins do not taper off for a while.  This wine is young but drinkable now. It will last and develop for at least 15 years.  I’m thinking it needs a Portehouse steak with au gratin potatoes and a Caeser salad.  91 points and for $22, 5 stars.  Salut…