The 2010 Trentatre (translates to “33”) Rosso Salento is a Trader Joe’s U.S. exclusive ($5.99), sourced from multiple vineyards in the Puglia region of Italy (the Bootheel) and is a blend of 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 33% Montepulciano (a grape indigenous to southern Italy). The wine is aged in both large and small oak barrels for 6 months. The alcohol content is 14%.
The color is opaque purple with black highlights. The nose is plums and smoke, a hay bale and wet paper. This wine is silky smooth with blackberry and strong licorice upfront. The mid palate has a slap from the tannins, a little pepper and stewed prune. This is not a particularly complex wine, there are some strong flavors, but I can’t say this is a tasty wine. The initial flavor and the mid palate are not very complimentary, I think there is a good wine in here somewhere, it just did not come out in the 2010 vintage.
