Winemaker Notes
Deep red with violet tones. The nose displays aromas of blueberry, blackberry, chocolate and spice. Highly concentrated flavors and sweet, soft tannins give substantial body and structure to the palate.
Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 9% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A beautiful 2016 with fine tannins, currant, blackberry and hazelnut character. Medium-to-full body, tight and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Bordeaux blend. Cooler than the 2015. Drink in 2019.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This red blend is always Cabernet Sauvignon-based, and the 2016 Cocodrilo Corte also has 10% Malbec, 9% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc from Luján de Cuyo and Valle de Uco. It's the first vintage for quite some time to use the five varietals from Bordeaux. As in many of the blended wines, the percentage of grapes sourced from the Valle de Uco is increasing. In 2016 they also reduced the amount of new oak and started replacing some American oak barrels with French ones. The blend feels very balanced and integrated, with the oak neatly folded into the fruit, and it has a harmonious and balanced palate with fine tannins and a very tasty finish. This follows the path toward more freshness that I already sensed with the 2015 vintage. There is a step (or two) up in complexity and depth from the Felino line.
Rating: 91+
Viña Cobos makes wines that are authentic expressions of the terroir from which they come. Paul Hobbs, founding partner and winemaker at Viña Cobos, has worked since 1988 in the exploration of the different terroirs of Mendoza, looking for the most distinguished regions in Luján de Cuyo and the Valle de Uco, to produce wines that uniquely express their origins.
Sustainable farming methods in the vineyard contribute to consistent yields of healthy fruit. In the winery, careful treatment of the grapes and meticulous winemaking techniques result in complex and elegant wines of subtlety and balance.
With the inaugural vintage of Cobos Malbec in 1999, Viña Cobos marked a milestone in viticulture, defying existing standards and firmly positioned Malbec and Argentina on the international wine scene. Since then, our prestigious wines have been recognized around the globe by critics and consumers alike.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
By far the largest and best-known winemaking province in Argentina, Mendoza is responsible for over 70% of the country’s enological output. Set in the eastern foothills of the Andes Mountains, the climate is dry and continental, presenting relatively few challenges for viticulturists during the growing season. Mendoza, divided into several distinctive sub-regions, including Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, is the source of some of the country’s finest wines.
For many wine lovers, Mendoza is practically synonymous with Malbec. Originally a Bordelaise variety brought to Argentina by the French in the mid-1800s, here it found success and renown that it never knew in its homeland where a finicky climate gives mixed results. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Pinot Noir are all widely planted here as well (and sometimes even blended with each other or Malbec). Mendoza's main white varieties include Chardonnay, Torrontés, Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.