2002 Caro

The 2002 Caro is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec that were sourced from Vistalba, La Consulta and Gualtallary and this was the first vintage produced. 2002 was a very nice vintage (someone told me it might have been the best vintage in the recent history of Argentina), and this wine has aged very well, in a classical style displaying notes of raw meat, some leather and paprika. The character of the Cabernet seems to have taken over the character of the wine. Drink now-2016. Bodegas Caro is a partnership between Nicolas Catena Zapata and Domaine Barons de Rothschild-Lafite which started in 1999 with its own winery located in Godoy Cruz, Mendoza, near the city. They have a separate winery, with an independent oenologist, and aim at blending French and Argentine traditions and grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, from their 65 hectares of vineyards in high altitude zones, in San Carlos and Lujan de Cuyo and now also in Altamira. They seem to be moving toward making a blend from different zones and seems like the direction is going toward a blend of Cabernet from Altamira and Malbec from Las Compuertas in Lujan de Cuyo. But that seems to be work in progress at the moment. Caro is the contraction of Catena and Rothschild. At the time of Laura Catena and Alejandro Vigil’s visit the new vintages were not ready, so I only tasted a couple of new wines plus some older vintages to provide context. I later paid a short visit to the winery while in Mendoza and met with new Technical Director Fernando Bucema, who has taken over from Estela Perinetti who has moved to Luca and La Posta. Importer: Pasternak Wine Imports, Harrison, NY; tel. (914) 630-8200; www.pasternakwine.com