2015 Bodegas Caro, Domaines Barons de Rothschild
Bodegas Caro is the prestigious collaboration between Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Catena Zapata in Argentina. Combining French elegance with Argentine intensity, their flagship red is a blend of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon with great finesse and structure.
"The eponymous flagship 2015 Caro is a blend of Malbec with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. As 2015 was a very challenging year for Cabernet Sauvignon, this vintage has more Malbec than in the past, which seems to have given it extra freshness. The percentage of Malbec has been creeping up since 2012, which has moved the profile toward more red fruit and freshness, and at the same time, they have been reducing the amount of new oak used. It comes from the oldest plots in their vineyards in Paraje Altamira and Las Compuertas. It fermented in stainless steel with neutral yeasts, including malolactic. The élevage lasted 18 months and was in French barriques produced by the Domaine Lafite, of which 60% were new and the rest second use. This is my favorite vintage of Caro so far, always an elegant and classical blend but now with an extra dimension of freshness. It has harmony and balance for a positive development in bottle. It's still young, but it's certainly approachable. Drink 2018-2025." The Wine Advocate