Cocodrilo, Mendoza (Argentina) 2020

 Cocodrilo, or crocodile, is a powerful name for a powerful wine.  It has a very dark  ruby color, lightly floral black fruit aromas and concentrated black fruit in the mouth.  Bright acidity invigorates the concentrated fruit and chalky tannins give it  a chewy finish.  For me, it is not a sipping wine, it requires protein, like a grilled slab of rare beef.  It is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petite Verdot.  Paul Hobbs is the founding partner and winemaker at Cocodrilo.  He is a well-prepared winemaker with a BA in Chemistry and a MS in viticulture and winemaking from U.C. Davis. He was on the team that created the Robert Mondavi / Mouton Rothschild collaborative Opus One wine.  He is also credited with building the recognition and regard for the Malbec grape variety.