2017 Viña Cobos (Paul Hobbs) ‘Volturno’ Cabernet Sauvignon Marchiori Vineyard

JS96  This is a firm, refined red with hazelnut, currant, berry and chocolate character. Iodine, too. Stays subtle and focused. Closed and tight now. Needs three or four years to open. Mostly cabernet sauvignon with malbec and cabernet franc. Try after 2022.
VIN96 The 2017 Volturno contains grapes from Perdriel (88%) and Los Árboles, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 9% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc – “to lend shape,” said oenologist Andrés Vignoni. Having spent 18 months aging in 63% new barrels, the resulting wine validates the new path taken by the winery. Deep red in the glass with a violet sheen. The bewitching nose delivers notes of cherry, black currant and a hint of paprika, followed by nuanced aromas of cigar box, acacia and espinillo. Delicate in the mouth, with a firm texture, it is already beginning to feel silky, while the freshness is wrapped in a fluffy, cloud-like body lifted up by the contained energy of the fine-grained tannins. Each precisely calibrated touch makes this an absolute hit on the Argentine wine scene.