Paul Hobbs Does it Again
Pascual Toso, Magdalena Toso 2002
From California Chardonnay to Argentinean Malbec, Paul Hobbs does it all. He’s a true North American winemaker, but lately he’s found a new passion south of the border. His Argentinean wines range in price from as low as $20 up to a couple hundred.
Hobbs is so versatile, he’s even found time to consult with other wineries, including one of my personal favorites: Argentina’s Pascal Toso. He’s currently working as one of the winemakers for Magdalena Toso; a $100 Mendoza Malbec which exemplifies Hobb’s brilliance with this varietal. The wine is big and bold, yet elegant and well structured. The 24 months of oak aging add vanilla and smoke on the nose. The palate is full of ripe plum and raspberries, with a finish of chocolate and coffee. It’s showing well now, though better after an hour of decanter time. The 5% Cabernet also adds structure and aging ability, so drink this monster over the next 10 years.
This is a great wine for Memorial Day barbequing. Beef, lamb and game meats, especially smoked, work well with big Malbec like this one.
