We visited Mendoza in Autumn 2016 and spent 5 days tasting a range of wine.
Located in the eastern foothills of the Andes, in the shadow of Mount Aconcagua, vineyards are planted at some of the highest altitudes in the world – with the average site located 600-1,100 meters above sea level. The principal wine-producing areas fall into two main departments; Maipu and Luján de Cuyo – which is where this wine is from. The Mendoza Province is one of Argentina’s most important wine regions, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the country’s entire wine production.

Sales of Malbec are at an all time high in the UK – and deservedly so; it’s good wine and most of the available offerings are well priced (in the UK at least). The UK market leader is Trivento – owned by the mammoth Vina Concha Y Toro company from neighbouring Chile. Founded 23 years ago, Trivento Bodegas y Vinedos produces brand-name wines under their own label. Trivento has become the most diversely distributed Argentine wine brand in the world.
Their UK Malbec offerings consist of ‘reserve’, ‘private reserve’, ‘golden reserve’ and now this – ‘Cuchillo’, which means ‘knife’. Trivento  also sell their entry level ‘Para Alta’ (sold as ‘Tribu’ elsewhere in the world) which is a good wine at a good price. Some links to my reviews of their other wines:

https://wordpress.com/post/atimeforwine.blog/625

https://wordpress.com/post/atimeforwine.blog/2057

https://wordpress.com/post/atimeforwine.blog/1833

Tasting Notes: Vibrant red. Full bodied in style with intense aromas of red fruit, blackberry, raspberry  & cherry with subtle vanilla oak. Well balanced wine with a soft finish typical of malbec. At £8 a bottle this is good wine. 

Wine Colour – Red
Price – £8
Where do I get it from? – Tesco
Current Vintage – 2017
Producer – Trivento
Type of Closure – Screwcap
Grape – 100% Malbec
Region/Country – Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza/Argentina
Points – 92

Food Pairings: Perfect when served with grilled red meat.

I visited the Trivento winery in November 2016 for a private tour and tasting and met with some of their winemakers. I also had a chocolate & wine pairing lesson – and had the largest steak imaginable cooked for me by a private chef.