Sideshow No.4 The Puppetmaster (PB)

Okay I don’t like gimmicky labels but this is one exception. My wife brought this home tonight to have with grilled tuna to which I screwed up my nose. First to the label: the label read, and I quote “Sideshow A collection of novelties and oddities from around the world No 4 Puppetmaster all the way from Argentina”

The graphic is a figure of a strange looking man holding marionette strings in one hand then the words “SYRAH on the one hand and MALBEC on the other”

The reverse label reads even more oddly. What’s important of course is the taste. In the glass th9is wine is a lighter red though pretty with some pretty large and very fresh fruity aromas but this wine smells like a well made Gamay. I would never have guessed this is made from Syrah and Malbec. In the mouth this wine is unexpectedly sweet with definite vanilla hints. The flavors are subdued a bit and a bit harsh. With some air time this wine is uncomplicated, full of fruitiness, uncomplicated and fun. For the pairing? Well, our grilled tuna steak done with Cajun spices was topped with a mango and cilantro and cherry salsa. The wine was actually VERY nice. The sweet fruit balanced the somewhat biting alcohol of the wine and the “Gamay-like” lightness did not overpower the light flavors of the tuna. All in all, I really liked this wine; it is different, fresh and simple. For $9, we’ll be buying more of this wine. I suggest you raise a glass to this and to the return of NW!