BODEGAS CARO 'Caro' - Mendoza (Lafite-Catena) 2020 Bottle (Cabernet/Malbec)

Description

Bodegas Caro was born of an alliance between two wine cultures, (French and Argentine), two noble grape varieties, (Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec), and two royal families of winemaking, (Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena.) The name of the winery, Bodegas Caro is a contraction of the two family names, Catena and Rothschild. Their plan was to produce a wine that would combine their expertise and the signature grapes of each producer. Together, these families have made a wine which delivers immediate gratification and can also be cellared over the mid-term.

Malbec is a powerful, exuberant fruity grape variety that benefits from the structure and elegance given by the Cabernet. These two grape varieties go well together with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Bodegas Caro has succeeded in making a wine that is flat-out gorgeous and immensely satisfying.

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
24 Feb, 2023 – Deep and ripe nose with plenty of ripe blackberries, cedar and black truffles. A hint of black pepper, too. Plush and generous on the palate with plenty of sweet fruit. Tannins are really tight and compact with a long, focused finish. Has the warm-vintage ripeness but it retains freshness. Needs some time. Drink from 2025.

DECANTER 94 points
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2034 - Violet-red in the glass, the nose offers ripe black fruit, hints of figs, quince and subtle smoky notes. On the palate, it's opulent and flavourful with compact tannins that lead into a long, persistent finish. Due to the dry, warm summer, the 2020 vintage posed a challenge that Bodegas Caro successfully navigated by incorporating, for the first time, grapes from San Pablo, a cold location at 1,400m above sea levelin the Uco Valley. A blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, Caro 2020 was aged for 18 months in barrel. - Tasted by: Alejandro Iglesias.

VINOUS 95 points
Drinking window: 2023 - 2034 - The 2020 Blend Caro is 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from Altamira & Gualtallary in Mendoza. It was aged for 18 months in DBR cooperage from Pauillac, 80% in first-use barrels and the rest in 4000-liter foudres. Dark purple in the glass. The nose features cassis and plum notes in a cedar frame, with ash and mint hints. Dry with firm tannins and a juicy flow, the intense mouthfeel and rich palate create a long-lasting, ripe finish. The 2020 is an unusually nuanced wine for a warm vintage. - Joaquín Hidalgo. Tasting date: June 2023