2021 Piattelli Vineyards Grand Reserve Trinità from Mendoza at the Base of the Andes
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Winery
Photo from Piattelli Vineyards website
The Mendoza winery was opened in 2002. Mendoza, located in the hills of the Andes Mountains, relies on pure waters coming from the snow-capped Andes. This location is the production site for much of their annual production of 40,000 cases of various wines. This vineyard is certified by the USDA as organic, and no pesticides are used. In the Mendoza region, Piattelli grows their grapes in three areas: Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Tupungato, & West Valle de Uco. These areas lie directly east of the Argentine/Chilean range of the Andes Mountains and sheltered from the influence of the marine air of the Pacific. Mendoza province is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output.
Valeria Antolin is the head winemaker and oversees the vineyard management. Valeria was born in Mendoza and comes from a family of winemakers being the 4th generation. Before coming to Piattelli she graduated with an agricultural winemaking degree, worked as an agronomist engineer and won scholarship to attending courses in Purpan University in France.
Today they produce various red offerings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. For the whites they produce a white blend and Torrontés. They also have an offering of a dessert blend and a Rosé.
The founders of Piattelli Vineyards are Jon and Arlene Malinski. Eric Malinski is the President and oversees and directs the winery operations.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine, Trinità, comes from the best areas of Mendoza, Piattelli’s icon from this region owes its name to the holy Trinity. The wine contains 77% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot. All the wines come from 30–70-year-old vines. The wine is hand-picked and destemmed. Punch downs were done manually to preserve the fruit forward character of the blend.
On the eyes a tantalizing deep ruby red coloring and medium heavy viscosity. On the nose strong and beautiful aromas of coffee and spices arise to greet the imbiber. On the palate, soft smoke, chocolate and plums unfold, presenting their pedigree. On the finish gentle oak and smooth but present tannins beckon additional sips. This finish on the wine is complex with structure reflecting their world class Malbec and accented appropriately with a modicum of Cabernet Sauvignon and softened with Merlot. The blend percentages changes year to year.
Rated 93 points from James Suckling and comes in with 14.8% alcohol. Aged in oak barrels for twelve months. It is listed on their website for $29.99 and is a bargain now and worth holding a couple of more years.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Paired this evening with a 24-hour marinated tri tip steak and BBQ’ed over slow heat to medium rare. Accompanied by small roasted potatoes and fresh garden salad with Cesar dressing and Parmesan cheese. An excellent food and wine paring with the wine having sufficient strength to embrace the meat and impart the intense fruit to the marinated steak.
A great recommendation by Vince Parrott, Proprietor at Phoenix Wine of Scottsdale. This is both a wine bar/tasting room and a wine shop. His wine shop features some excellent domestic and international wineries.
Sláinte,
Michael
https://californiawinesandwineries.com