2021 Bodegas Caro, Mendoza, Argentina

Bodegas Caro

Bodegas Caro is a renowned winery located in Mendoza, Argentina. It is a joint venture between two well-established wine families: Argentina’s Catena family and France’s Rothschild family. The winery was established in 1999 to combine the expertise and traditions of these two families to produce high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroir of Mendoza.

The Catena family is known for their pioneering work in elevating the quality of Argentine wines and promoting Malbec as the country’s signature grape variety. On the other hand, the Rothschild family has a long history in the wine industry and is associated with some of the world’s most prestigious wineries, including Château Lafite Rothschild in Bordeaux.

The winery is in the Mendoza region, considered one of Argentina’s premier wine-producing areas. Mendoza is known for its high-altitude vineyards, which benefit from optimal sunlight exposure and temperature variations that contribute to the developing of complex flavours in the grapes.

Bodegas Caro focuses on producing limited quantities of premium wines that blend traditional Argentine varietals, particularly Malbec, with classic Bordeaux varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This blending of Old and New World winemaking traditions is intended to create wines that showcase both the unique characteristics of the Mendoza terroir and the elegance and structure associated with Bordeaux-style wines.

Some flagship wines Bodegas Caro produced include “Caro,” a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, and “Amancaya,” a combination of Malbec and Cabernet Franc. These wines often receive high praise from critics and enthusiasts for their balance, complexity, and age-worthy potential.

Mendoza

With its western borderline dominated by the Andes and its 146,000 hectares of vineyards representing 70% of the country’s wine production, Mendoza is Argentina’s biggest and most important wine-growing province.

Mendoza’s vineyards are a haven to Old World varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Bonarda, Sangiovese, Barbera, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. The province’s signature grape is Malbec. 

Mendoza still produces large amounts of inexpensive wine for domestic consumption, as well as grape concentrate, but the sub-region of Luján de Cuyo stands out with some lovely velvety Malbecs, while the cool, gravelly Maipú is best for Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The most exciting area in Mendoza for fine whites, however, is the Uco Valley, that has the highest vineyards, up to 1,200 metres above sea level. Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Chenin, Pinot Grigio and Torrontés fare particularly well in its cool climate. Its sub-region of Tupungato produces Argentina’s best Chardonnay.

Other Varieties

There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.