Bodegas Caro ‘Caro’ Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2017 Mendoza, Argentina 75cl

Few partnerships in the wine world are as intriguing as Bodegas Caro, where Argentina’s Catena dynasty joined forces with Domaines Barons de Rothschild of Château Lafite in 1999. Caro is their signature cuvée, a wine that sets out to speak both languages at once, and it has become one of Argentina’s most respected reds.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec share the blend, the first bringing Bordeaux backbone, the second Argentina’s most celebrated variety and its generous, dark-fruited heart. Grapes come from high vineyards around Mendoza, in sites such as Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, where altitude gives cool nights and slow, even ripening.

The 2017 hails from a warm, dry Mendoza growing season, widely rated as a very good year that produced ripe, concentrated reds. You can feel that generosity here, with fuller fruit and supple tannins compared with the estate’s cooler vintages, yet the wine keeps its poise.

The aromas run to cassis, black cherry and plum, framed by graphite, cedar and gentle spice. On the palate it is generous yet composed, with firm Cabernet structure and Malbec’s velvety flesh carrying a long, savoury finish. It drinks well now with a decant and will reward a few more years in the cellar. Serve with grilled red meat, venison or aged cheese.

Caro is a benchmark of what Argentine ambition and French experience can achieve together. If your cellar holds classed-growth Bordeaux and top Mendoza Malbec alike, this is the bottle that bridges them, and a fine one to share.