Thursday, June 25, 2015

Bodegas Triton Avante 2009 Mencia, Spain


This mild red went with us on our recent trip to a rustic cabin in West Virginia. While there we enjoyed an assortment of tasty meals prepared on a wood stove. The Avante held up well with a variety of dishes from meatloaf to pasta.
Mencia is a relatively new grape to me. It is a Spanish grape found mostly in the northwestern part of the country. It is becoming more popular as winemakers experiment with older vines resulting in complex wines.
The Avante comes from multiple vineyards in the Castile and Leon regions. It is 100% Mencia and is finished in 30% stainless steel and 70% French oak.
This is a light to medium bodied wine. The tannins are loose, making it a good food to pair with lighter dishes. It has raspberry and earth flavors while maintaining a somewhat bright tone.
In Greek mythology, Triton's stallions represented the waves upon the waters he ruled. According to the winemaker, inspired by a stone carving of these horses, Avante pays homage to the wild rivers that carved their paths into the rugged mountains of northern Spain.
I found this bottle for $9 on a closeout at Zinful and galloped away with a great deal. This doesn’t have the firepower to pair with a grilled steak, but it is a suitable choice for casual sipping, light fare or tapas.
Rating: 2.5 of 5  Value: 3.5 of 5
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