2013 Caro

As I saw with Amancaya, the 2013 Caro, which is the flagship wine and a blend of 50/50 Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, had some faint animal aromas intermixed with red and black cherries and a spicy twist, some hints of roasted sesame seeds and smoke. They have been progressively lowering the amount of new oak used, which was about 65% in 2013. In 2016, the wine was sourced exclusively from Altamira, but in 2013 it was still Malbec from a very old vineyard in Las Compuertas and Cabernet Sauvignon from Altamira. 30,000 bottles were filled after 18 months in oak, in December two years after the harvest.

Bright medium ruby. Brooding aromas of cassis, blackberry, bitter chocolate, cocoa powder and peppery herbs. Suave, fine-grained and energetic, offering slightly gamey flavors of currant, tobacco leaf, mint, leather and minerals. In a surprisingly supple style for a wine with pronounced green elements. Again, this strikes me as more like Bordeaux than Mendoza. Finishes with smooth tannins, a slightly tart quality and excellent length.