2018 Viña Cobos “Vinculum” Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina

ABOUT THIS WINE

“Vinculum” (Latin for "bond") is Viña Cobos’s ode to the connection between terroir and the hand of the winemaker. This single-varietal Malbec is composed of fruit sourced from carefully selected high-altitude vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, where rocky, alluvial soils and cooler nights contribute to freshness, structure, and aromatic lift.

The 2018 vintage in Mendoza was marked by excellent weather, offering slow and balanced ripening conditions that resulted in wines of clarity, concentration, and natural acidity. The grapes were hand-harvested and sorted before undergoing cold maceration and fermentation with native yeasts. The wine then aged for approximately 18 months in French oak barrels, about 40% new, enhancing its textural depth while preserving purity of fruit.

Vinculum showcases Malbec’s darker side—rich, brooding, yet polished, with precise tannin management and a compelling interplay of fruit and savory elements. It’s a wine designed to express both vineyard character and the finesse of Viña Cobos’s winemaking philosophy.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER

Founded by Paul Hobbs in the late 1990s, Viña Cobos helped elevate Argentine Malbec to the world stage. Hobbs, known for his finesse with Bordeaux varieties in both California and South America, brought a meticulous, terroir-driven approach to Mendoza, focusing on low-intervention viticulture, sustainable practices, and site expression.

The estate works primarily with vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, often at elevations exceeding 3,000 feet. These sites offer diverse soils and diurnal shifts that contribute to intensity, balance, and aromatic complexity in the wines.

Viña Cobos combines modern precision with old-world restraint, crafting Malbecs that are age-worthy, elegant, and expressive of place. The Vinculum line in particular reflects a nuanced, almost European approach to Argentine fruit—wines of layered character, structural refinement, and lasting depth.