2011 Cobos Bramare VD Malbec Marchiori Vineyard Mendoza

Among Cobos's high-end 2011 Malbecs, this one comes across as the most complete, layered and complex of the group. Aromas of fine oak and pencil lead augment blackberry and baked plum scents. The mouthfeel is smooth, round and rich, while flavors of tea, savory spices and black fruits dance long into the night. A ripe but not too heavy finish is earthy, calm and complete. Drink through 2019.

The 2011 Bramare Malbec Marchiori Vineyard from Perdriel was vinified and raised in the same way as the 2011 Malbec from Rebon with just a little bit more new oak (77% vs. 67%) to try to show the differences from the two zones within Mendoza. This has good concentration and is quite powerful, true to the place, as the soils have quite a bit of clay, which make for powerful wines. This one disguises well it is 14.7% alcohol, which is well-coated by ripe, sweet tannins and juicy fruit. The nose turns spectacular after some time in the glass, subtle but intense, aromatic and powerful but elegant. Drink 2015-2023.

Ripe and jammy, yet well-balanced, with buried acidity supporting the roasted plum, cherry puree, mocha and smoke notes, building toward a rich, compact finish. Needs time. Best from 2015 through 2022. 380 cases imported. -NW

Sourced from the Marchiori family's own vineyards close to the winery in Perdriel, this is like a mini Cobos in many ways. It's a profound, super-concentrated Malbec, with plenty of oak and intense, chocolatey tannins and plummy fruit sweetness. Slightly pruney, but still very impressive. Drink: 2014-18.

Bright medium ruby. High- pitched aromas of blackberry, cassis, licorice, violet and minerals show much less of the superripe character of the Rebon Vineyard release. Like liquid silk in the mouth, but with harmonious acidity giving shape and lift to the deep, primary flavors of blackberry, minerals and flowers. Finishes with noble tannins and palate-staining flavors of black fruits and bitter chocolate. Really insidious flavor intensity here--and with no heaviness. In contrast to the Rebon Vineyard bottling, which showed an increasingly roasted quality, this wine maintained its verve with two days in the recorked bottle.