2015 Vina Cobos Malbec Marchiori Estate

The 2015 Cobos Malbec Marchiori Estate used to be the top of the range until the new Chañares vineyard came into play. Tasting this next to the Bramare from this same estate vineyard (but from different plots) was fascinating. These are older vines, around 80 years old, and the soils are very stony and poor. The wine is more serious, with less sensation of ripeness (it has slightly lower alcohol) and with better integrated oak despite being aged in 85% new French barriques for 18 months. I think this is a very regular wine, with a style that is powerful yet elegant, and in 2015, they managed to bottle it below 15% alcohol. It shows the potential of the vineyard in this somewhat challenging vintage in Luján. 7,080 bottles.

(14.8% alcohol; made from selected blocks of the estate's oldest vines; aged for 18 months in 100% new oak): Bright saturated ruby. Wonderfully intense aromas of blackberry, cassis, bitter chocolate, graphite and licorice pastille. Then pure and explosive in the mouth, conveying outstanding creamy density without any sloppiness or undue weight. A floral element gives this seamless wine a penetrating character. Totally different in texture from the foregoing wines; this is more refined. Finishes with very suave, silky tannins and superb length, with a touch of medicinal reserve suggesting that it will age gracefully even if it has the balance to offer early pleasure.