CARO ARGENTINA LAFITE RED 75cl 2018

Description

The Vineyard:Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and the Catena family was to select the finest terroir that would enhance the alliance between Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The grapes selected for CARO come from Bodegas CARO’s vineyard and from the best vineyards we have selected as the most representative of the great terroirs of Mendoza and known for the high quality of their Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.

These terroirs are located :

– In the “First zone”, in  Luján de Cuyo and Maipú :
The region is known as the First Zone because it was the first place where Malbec was planted in Mendoza. The wines coming from this area are acknowledged to be among the best in the country. The altitude ranges from 800 to 950 metres and the average temperature range is 23ºC (max)/ 8ºC (min).

– In the Uco Valley, in Tunuyán, Tupungato and San Carlos:
This is an up-and-coming wine region, located one hour south of Mendoza. The landscape of this area is impressive, with glaciers and year-round snow overlooking the adjacent river and the vineyards.  The altitude range is here 1000 to 1600 metres and the average temperature range is 22ºC (max)/ 7ºC (min).

The management of the estate is ensured by Philippe Rolet, Estate Manager. Olivier Trégoat, ​Technical Director of Château Rieussec, Château L’Evangile, Château Paradis Casseuil  provides technical supervision.

The Cellar:

Bodegas CARO lies the heart of the Mendoza region in cellars that were built between 1884 and 1895, which have been completely renovated.

Harvests are carried out by hand and the grapes are sorted on tables before de-stemming. Vinification is traditional with gentle pumping-over, followed by a period of maceration that varies in length depending on grape variety and vintage. Each vintage is aged in oak barrels, 18 months for CARO and 12 months for Amancaya. Most of the barrels are made at the DBR’s Cooperage in Bordeaux. Blending takes place during the months of September and October.

Malbec is a powerful, exuberant very fruity grape variety, that benefits from the structure and elegance given by the Cabernet. These two grape varieties go well together and gain complexity thanks to the rich high-altitude terroirs, offering great wines with good ageing potential.

Tasting notes:

CARO, from Catena and Rothschild, has a strong Argentine identity, characterized by the Malbec grape, which is given further elegance and complexity through blending with Cabernet Sauvignon. The combination produces a voluptuous, refined wine with a harmonious balance between the wine’s Argentinian identity and its Bordeaux style. This wine has a dark, intense colour, with hints of violet. The nose reveals a complex mix of aromas including raspberry, black pepper, violets, cloves and subtle notes of dark chocolate. On the palate the wine is well-balanced with a refreshing acidity and ripe tannins that contribute to the harmony and smoothness of the palate. This wine will reveal its complexity with further bottle ageing.