RUTINI 2012 TRUMPETER MALBEC

“Here's to the corkscrew - a useful key to unlock the storehouse of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the gate of pleasant folly.” …. W.E.P. French
(From the wine list of Commander's Palace in New Orleans, LA 

I just enjoyed tasting Rutini’s “Encuentro” 2011 Malbec when a friend announced herself and I subsequently opened Rutini’s 2012 Trumpeter Malbec. (For more on Rutini’s history and their “Encuentro” wine, see previous post:

http://www.winemizer.net/2015/04/rutini-encuentro-2011-malbec.html

In the glass, Trumpetor is dark purple and offers a nose of sour cherry jam with allspice. With air and a little time, this evolved to blackberry and cherry salsa without the heat.  Taste was certainly not peppery or presented with any alcohol burn on the back palate.  In fact, the wine was fruit forward with blackberry, plum and hints of pencil shavings and bacon fat. As its higher priced (but still bargain respecting cousin “Encuentro”), Trumpetor is silky and lush in the mouth due to 100% malolactic fermentation.  Grapes are 100% estate grown and hand-harvested from Rutini’s Tupungato vineyard in the Uco Valley in Mendoza (Argentina).  The wine is 100% Malbec.

With each wine I taste and write about, I’m reminded of Pliny the Elder’s quote: “The best wine is that which tastes good to thine own palate.”  If “chewy” Cabernet Sauvignons or moisture-sucking Petite Sirahs are your style, you might not be enamored by this style of Malbec.  Rutini’s “Encuentro” Malbec might be more to your liking, though that too is “new world” in style albeit less fruity.

And with each wine I taste and write about, I better appreciate that the

world is bigger than me.  I was reminded of that again when my friend said she preferred the “Trumpeter.”  She enjoyed its softer, fruit-forward profile and simply that it was easy drinking and enjoyable.  Apparently, she has lots of company. Rutini’s Trumpeter has been Argentina’s “Best Buy” for over 15 years. With a suggested retail price of under $11, even I can appreciate that.

My instincts tell me that this is a crowd pleaser in a mixed group getting together for good times.   

Salud!

…………….. Jim

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TECH SPECS:

Varietal:                      100% Malbec

Vineyard:                     Tupungato, Mendoza

Malo:                           100%

Oak:                             30% new American

                                    30% new French

                                    40% 2^nd and 3^rd yr American

Aging                           7 months as per above

Alc:                              13.5%

Wine Maker:               Mariano Di Paola

Imported By:               Rutini Wines, Bridgeport PA

·         Sample provided by publicist for review.