2005 Viña Cobos Malbec Marchiori Vineyard

The 2005 Cobos Malbec Marchiori Vineyard reveals a similar personality but with an extra dimension of sweetness and complexity. Vina Cobos is Paul Hobbs’ winery in Mendoza. He is better known (at least for the moment) to USA connoisseur/collectors for his namesake winery in Napa Valley which has received many accolades (including 100-point scores from Robert Parker) for its Cabernets, Pinot Noirs, and Chardonnays. What is less well known is that Hobbs is a pioneer in fine wine production in Argentina, having started there in 1988 with Nicolas Catena. Senor Catena gives Hobbs much credit for the success of Catena-Zapata’s Chardonnay program. He has since extended his consulting efforts both in Argentina and Chile but the capstone of Hobbs’ work is Vina Cobos which began in 1998 and moved into its own winery facility in 2007. The first vintage of the top-of-the-line Cobos Malbec Marchiori Vineyard was 1998 but it was ruined by rain and never sold in the USA. 2000 and 2001 were not up to par, 2000 being the El Nino year and 2001 being too dilute, resulting in their declassification. Importer: Paul Hobbs Imports, Sebastopol, CA; tel. (707) 824-9879

100% Malbec from Perdriel; aged for 20 months in 100% new Taransaud French oak. Strong Bovril meat extract aroma over fresh cassis and violets but then you hit the palate and it is deliciously soft and perfumed with power behind it. The power is subtle too so you get a lovely gentle long finish. Like lying under a duvet of dark fruit. Very fine. (JH)