Deep black colour with violets highlights. The nose is complex, reveals aromas of black fruit, such as blackberries and black cherries, and figs on a background of mild spices and subtle cocoa notes. On the palate, the wine is dense and velvety, supported by fleshy and powerful tannins. The range of aromas gradually reveals itself, leading to an extremely flavoursome finish. A very balanced wine that expresses itself with subtlety.

Assemblage: 83% Malbec, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon.

“CARO is the expression of a blend of two great grape varieties grown on the alluvial soils of Altamira. The intimate knowledge of this terroir allows us to make intra-plot selections that favour tension and complexity.”
Pablo Serrano, Winery Production Manager

CARO is made with the utmost care, just like their Bordeaux Grands Crus. CARO grapes come from selected sections of rows where the soil is layered with calcareous deposits as well as limestone, remnants of a river which used to flow through Altamira, and from selected sites in Gualtallary and San Pablo. Grapes are carefully selected and hand harvested. After destemming, they are placed in temperature controlled stainless steel vats for alcoholic fermentation. Maceration lasts for a period of 20 days with gentle pump-over to ease tannin extraction and fix the colour. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in tanks, then about half the wine was transferred into French oak barrels made by the Tonnellerie des Domaines in Pauillac (18% new oak). 28% is placed in wooden vats and 25% in concrete vats for 14 months

The idea of forming a partnership between DBR Lafite and the Catena family was born in 1999. In Mendoza, the Catena family (CA) relies on their knowledge of the region’s high-altitude terroirs and their passion for Malbec. Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite (RO) brings its centuries-old know-how in growing, vinifying, and ageing great Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as its expertise in blending.

Since the beginning of the project, special care has been taken in the selection of vineyards, with the aim of magnifying the blend between Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the grapes come from the most representative vineyards of the great terroirs of Mendoza. The exchanges and selection work began in 1999 to produce a first vintage of CARO in 2000.

“A prime example from Caro that shows good freshness, nuances and restraint despite the richness and ripeness from this year. In this case, it shows less cedary oak and creaminess than the more hedonistic 2019 and manages to keep good tension. It is also less intensely herbal and less challenging than the cooler 2021 vintage. Aromas of blueberries, graphite and cocoa powder with touches of violets, herbs and charcoal. The tannins are abundant and seductive on the full-bodied palate. The finish is pretty long, pristine and almost stemmy. A classic Caro. 83% malbec and 17% cabernet sauvignon. Drink now or hold.”
95 points. Zekun Shuai, jamessuckling.com (October 2024)