Winemaker Notes
Deep red hue completed by dark tones. The nose offers a refined complexity, unveiling delightful aromas of strawberries, nuances pastry notes, and a hint of cloves. On the palate, it is deeply concentrated, layered with fine grain tannins.
Blend: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Named for one of Paul Hobbs’ partners in Argentina, this grand, lavish wine is something for a special occasion. So silky, layered and concentrated, with resolved tannins blanketing deep black and blue fruit, vanilla bean and espresso nuances. Great balance, lifting acidity and focus keep it fascinating from first whiff to the lingering finish. Made from 86% cabernet sauvignon, 12% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Best from 2028.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Volturno is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc sourced primarily from the Chañares Estate with additions from the Hobbs Estate site and matured for 18 months in 60% new barrique. The most decadent wine in the Viña Cobos roster, it leads with a rich, inky bouquet of black fruits accented with cigar wrapper, espresso and herbal aromas. The palate is dense and voluptuous, seamlessly transitioning into a spherical, tense and drying finish that will benefit from additional time in bottle. This is a decidedly flashy and luxurious example of the Viña Cobos style. Rating: 94+
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Wine Spectator
This blend offers a touch of wildness, showing chaparral and pineapple sage notes, with anise and apple wood details that swell around a concentrated core of steeped cherry, plum and cassis. Vibrant mineral acidity guides the finish, where loamy notes check in around firming tannins and an echo of cordial. Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2040.
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.