In 1989, Paul Hobbs visited Mendoza for the first time. Driving over the Andes from Chile with his longstanding friend Jorge Catena, brother of the famous Nicolas Catena, he fell in love, not only with the place and people, but also the potential to make great wine. He began to work with the Catenas, firstly experimenting with wild ferments for Chardonnay and then with the variety that would become Argentina's calling card - Malbec. His first 10 barrel vintage of Malbec persuaded not only the Catenas, but also the American press of the potential with this grape. Paul established his own winery, Vina Cobos, in 1998 and, over 30 years later, Paul continues to push viticultural and winemaking boundaries to the max. Concentrating on the Valle de Uco, widely regarded as the highest quality region, Paul is the driving force for some of the most impressive wines in the country. Viticulture- From vineyard sites in Luján de Cuyo, Maipu and Valle de Uco at altitudes of 2300 to 3835 feet above sea level. The diurnal temperature variations, long growing season and altitude give a tremendous purity of fruit. These sites are semi desert and irrigation is an essential. Yields are limited to around 1.33 to 4.68 tons per hectare. Fermentation is in 8 and 17 ton closed-top stainless steel tanks. There is a 2-3 day period of cold maceration and 14 days total maceration followed by a 3 month malolactic fermentation in barrel and a period of 9 months oak aging in French and American Oak of which a small percentage is new.