Malbec is Argentina’s calling card — and Paul Hobbs is one of the people most responsible for the world knowing it. When he drove over the Andes into Mendoza for the first time in 1989, he recognised immediately the extraordinary potential of this high-altitude, semi-desert landscape to produce Malbec of a depth, concentration, and aromatic complexity that the variety’s original French homeland could never quite replicate. His first ten-barrel vintage of Mendoza Malbec was enough to convince the American press; the decades that followed built Viña Cobos into one of Argentina’s most celebrated and influential estates, and established Paul as one of the defining figures of Argentine fine wine. Felino is the more approachable and expressive face of Viña Cobos — wines that bring Paul’s winemaking philosophy and the extraordinary quality of Mendoza’s finest terroirs to a wider audience, without compromising on the authenticity and precision that defines everything the estate produces. The Felino Malbec is sourced from vineyards across both Valle de Uco and Luján de Cuyo — Mendoza’s two most distinguished sub-regions — at altitudes between 850 and 1,460 metres, where the semi-desert climate, the intense Andean sunshine, and the cool nights of altitude combine to produce Malbec of extraordinary concentration, purity, and aromatic depth. Hand harvested and fermented with a combination of selected and native yeasts in closed-top stainless steel tanks, then aged for nine months in American oak barrels and bottled unfined — a winemaking approach that preserves the natural character and purity of the fruit while adding a warmth and spice that integrates beautifully with Malbec’s generous, fruit-forward character. The result is a Malbec of real depth and charm: deep red with violet tones in the glass; aromas of plum, blueberries, menthol, and hints of floral essence that are immediately and completely captivating. On the palate it is concentrated, juicy, and pure, with a good balance and a long, satisfying finish that speaks of the altitude, the terroir, and the skill of the winemaking. The accessible face of one of Argentina’s greatest estates — available as a six-bottle case at a special price.