CARO

Bodegas Caro

APPELLATION

Mendoza

GRAPE VARIETIES

79% Malbec, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon

WINEMAKERS

Philippe Rolet

TECHNICAL DATA

Acidity
3.7 g/L
Alcohol
14.5%

2021

97POINTS

Decanter
MARCH 2024
2020

94POINTS

JamesSuckling.com
NOVEMBER 2023
BACKGROUND

CARO was born of the alliance between two wine cultures (French and Argentine), two noble grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec), and two renowned wine families, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolás Catena. Both vignerons since the 19th century, these two powerful organizations have combined their deep knowledge of Mendoza’s high altitude terroir and the art of winemaking to create a unique portfolio of wines: CARO, Amancaya, and Aruma. Two noble grapes, two families, one dear and elegant portfolio of wines.

TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES

Nestled at the foothills of the snowcapped Andes mountains, Mendoza is known as the best wine producing region in Argentina. With vines planted on high plateaux between 800 and 1200m A.S.L., Mendoza’s vineyards are known as the highest in the world. Sheltered from the rain by the mountains to the West and the Pampa to the East, the region is very arid. Mendoza wines draw their character from an exceptional sun exposure and wide temperature variations between night and day.
CARO vineyard is a plot of 8ha located Altamira, in the Uco Valley, South of Mendoza. Vineyards are planted at 1000m A.S.L., on the ancient alluvial bed of the Tunuyan River.
The season started out a little late, with a few nights of frost during spring, but they did not damage the buds. Spring was mostly characterized by wet and cold conditions, which led to delayed growth. Overall, flowering and fruit set were good. During the summer, especially in January and February, temperatures were uncommonly lower than average and without the usual heatwaves that characterize the Mendoza climate. The ripeness period was marked by rainfalls: intermittent showers alternating with sunny days characterized this final period before harvesting. These conditions during maturity required the winegrowers to monitor the development of mildew or botrytis, in order to correctly anticipate the decision to harvest.

WINEMAKING & AGING

CARO is made with the utmost care, just like our 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 color. Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in tanks, then the wine is transferred into French oak barrels made by the Tonnellerie des Domaines in Pauillac (80% new oak) for a period of 18 months.

TASTING NOTES

The nose is complex with aromas of red fruits, figs, and gentle notes of blue berries. On the palate the wine is round with soft tannins and refreshing acidity, displaying good density and persistence, well balanced.

RESOURCES

SELECT A PRODUCT

Bodegas Caro Portfolio

AMANCAYA RESERVE RED BLEND
FULL PROFILE
ARUMA MALBEC
FULL PROFILE