Bodegas Caro ‘Caro’ 2016 Mendoza, Argentina 75cl

Bodegas Caro is the Argentine venture of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), the Bordeaux house behind Château Lafite, in partnership with the Catena family of Mendoza. Begun in 1999, it brings together French blending expertise and Argentine knowledge of high-altitude terroir, and the name stitches the two families together: Catena and Rothschild.

Caro sits at the top of the range, a Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec blend from vineyards planted high on the Andean foothills. Malbec brings the plush, dark-fruited generosity of Mendoza, while Cabernet lends spine, structure and a Bordeaux-like sense of proportion, guided by the same team that shapes the wines at Château Lafite. Neither grape dominates; the whole point is the balance between them.

The 2016 vintage was a cooler, later-ripening year in Mendoza, which favoured freshness, elegance and finer tannins over sheer power. That character suits Caro well, giving a wine of poise and detail rather than weight alone, closer in spirit to a classic claret than a big, sunny New World red.

Expect cassis and dark plum with a savoury, graphite edge, a medium-full body and firm, refined tannins from its time in French oak. It is drinking well now with a decant, and has the structure to develop further over several years in the cellar. Match it with roast beef, lamb or a mature hard cheese.

This is a thoughtful, food-friendly Mendoza red for the confident drinker, one that wears its Franco-Argentine parentage with real elegance. If you enjoy the polish of a fine Bordeaux but want the warmth of Argentine fruit, Caro is a natural place to meet in the middle.