New Releases from Argentina

Although the top 2003 reds will not be released for another year or more, this vintage is also very promising. According to Californian Paul Hobbs, who has been involved for years in winemaking and consulting in Argentina, a severe heat spike just before veraison caused some worries, and crop losses, but the sunburned fruit mostly dried up and fell away. The rest of the summer and harvest were then nearly ideal, and the wines, according to Hobbs, show excellent focus and structure. Malbec fared especially well in 2003, by most reports.