Solid, with medium-weight black licorice, crushed plum and spice notes that stay nicely focused on the finish. Drink now. 18,750 cases made. ûJM Aug 2009

Vina Cobos is Paul HobbsÆ 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). 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-ZapataÆs Chardonnay program. He has since extended his consulting efforts both in Argentina and Chile but the capstone of HobbsÆ 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. - DEC 08 ISSUE BY JAY MILLER