2021 Vina Cobos Bramare Cabernet Sauvignon Lujan de Cuyo

Viña Cobos is located in Argentina’s most celebrated wine region, Mendoza. This winery is the property of world-renowned winemaker Paul Hobbs. 

Paul arrived in Mendoza more than 30 years ago, and he immediately fell in love with this region. It was the terroir, the landscapes, and the potential that Mendoza had, that captured him. Paul is mostly responsible of the growth and popularity of the Argentinian Malbec. He managed to position Malbec and Argentinian wines in general as high-quality, amazing wines.  

Paul Hobbs, named as the “Steve Jobs of wine” by Forbes magazine, is a world-renowned American winemaker who started his wine trajectory after graduating from UC Davis with a winemaking and viticulture master’s degree. He is well known for putting Napa Valley in the map. He was the right-hand of Robert Mondavi and served as the first winemaker of Opus One Winery and as vice-president of Simi Winery. Today, Hobbs owns different and emblematic wineries throughout the world: Paul Hobbs Winery and Crossbarn in California, Viña Cobos in Argentina, Crocus in France, and Yacoubian-Hobbs in Armenia. He also consults at more than 30 wineries in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Canada, Spain, Hungary, among other countries.

Viña Cobos is completely committed to the environment. This winery uses sustainable practices in the vineyard and the cellar, allowing to have balanced and very high-quality harvests. The result is complex, subtle and extremely elegant wines.

The 2021 spent 18 months in French oak. Cassis and ripe currant lead, with white pepper and roasted red pepper behind them. Chocolate and tobacco show up on the palate. The tannins are fine and firm, and the finish has real energy.

It's drinking now and will hold. I'd pour it next to Cabernets that cost twice as much. Open it with a steak and let it breathe while the grill heats.