Bodegas Caro Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec 2013 750ml

95-96 This is a special project with only 10 barrels of 85% cabernet sauvignon and 15% cabernet franc. It's full-bodied but totally integrated and finely textured. Shows chocolate, hazelnut and cedar. Wonderful center palate. (Suckling)

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.

This wine has a dark, intense color, with hints of violet. The nose reveals a complex mix of aromas including raspberry, black pepper, violets, cloves and subtle notes of dark chocolate. On the palate the wine is well-balanced with a refreshing acidity and ripe tannins that contribute to the harmony and smoothness of the palate.