97 Point (JS) Red Blend - From the Rothschild and Catena Families

A BEAUTIFUL BLEND

"Two unrivaled wine families, Nicolás Catena Zapata, godfather of Argentinian wines, and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) have formed an alliance in Argentina. They’ve created Bodegas CARO (CAtena ROthschild) and focus on just two grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The venture combines the Catena family’s deep knowledge of Mendoza's high-altitude terroir and the Rothschild’s skill in the art of winemaking. We just received the 97 point 2017 Bodegas Caro Caro Red Blend and it is a beauty. Truly a great blend of family knowledge and grapes, it expresses loads of blue fruit with a smoothness and elegance, notes of crushed stone and hints of chocolate. While this will cellar exceptionally well it is pretty hard to resist now. Enjoy!” – Glen Knight, The Wine House

The Wine House Kitchen freshly prepared cocktails to go are back in stock! All our Wine House Kitchen cocktails to go are made with top-of-the-line ingredients. All you need to do to enjoy these premium cocktails is shake well and pour over ice! Each 400ml bottle is only $24 and makes three cocktails. Please keep refrigerated as they are made with fresh ingredients. NOTE: Cocktails to go are only available for curbside pickup.

Check out our CLOSEOUT wines on our website! Quantities are limited to current stock and new closeout wines are added regularly!

NOTE: The Wine House is not open for walk-in customers. We offer curbside pickup between 11AM and 6PM. Please see below for UPDATED curbside pickup instructions and contact us before coming to the store. Please let us know if you have multiple orders to consolidate.

CHAT! If you see a chat bubble in the lower right corner on our website, a Wine House employee is ready to answer your questions. Please note that chat is only available between 11AM and 6PM, and the bubble only displays when an employee is available.

NOTE! For orders over $250, we now offer Special Local Delivery
Monday - Friday to addresses up to 10 miles from the store for $8/case. Additional delivery options are also available on our website.

97 Points: “This is one of the most direct and clear Caros in a long time with blue-fruit, violet and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Crushed-stone, too. Full-bodied, yet tight and contracted with a level of shyness to its strength. The length derives from the excellence of the cabernet. One for the cellar. Blend of 74% malbec and 26% cabernet sauvignon. Try after 2023, but exciting to drink all the same.” – James Suckling (December 2020)

94 Points: “The path taken over the years by CARO, a joint venture between Catena and Rothschild, has seen some interesting turns, shifting from Luján de Cuyo to the Uco Valley. Today, it is a blend of 74% Malbec and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon from Paraje de Altamira, aged for 12–18 months in French barrels. Bordeaux in style, it is bright purple in the glass and dominated in this instance by elegant woody flavors, revealing hints of plum and violet along with touches of orange petit-fours and bell pepper for complexity. Juicy and malleable, with a texture kept gently in check by active tannins, it delivers a cleansing finish of mint and herbs. A wine with precisely defined flavors in which each detail has been considered at length. Perfectly balanced for cellar aging. Drinking Window: 2020 – 2032” – Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous (October 2020)

FROM THE IMPORTER

BACKGROUND
CARO was born of the alliance between two wine cultures (French and Argentine), two noble grape varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec), and two renowned wine families, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolás Catena. Both vignerons since the 19th century, these two powerful organizations have combined their deep knowledge of Mendoza’s high altitude terroir and the art of winemaking to create a unique portfolio of wines: CARO, Amancaya, and Aruma. Two noble grapes, two families, one dear and elegant portfolio of wines.

APPELLATION: Mendoza, Argentina
VARIETAL COMPOSITION: 74% Malbec, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon

VINTAGE NOTES
The 2017 vintage was characterized by slightly above average rainfall, especially during bud break. Temperatures were close to the seasonal average, apart from an episode of frost on October 21st that caused some damage to the vines. Towards the end of the summer, the nights became warmer than usual, which, combined with a generally dry quarter, had an accelerating effect on the ripening cycle and the harvest started two weeks early. The resulting grapes showed great balance between sugar and acidity, and the Malbec reached tannins of remarkable softness. The Cabernet Sauvignon from deeper soils had a slower maturity, while those from stony soils reached an excellent balance with their typical spicy character.

WINEMAKING
CARO grapes come from selected sections of rows within our blocks, where the soil is layered with calcareous deposits as well as limestone, remnants of a river which used to flow through Altamira. Grapes are carefully selected and hand harvested. After destemming, they are placed in temperature controlled stainless steel vats for alcoholic fermentation. Maceration lasts for a period of 20 days with gentle pump-over to ease tannin extraction and fix the color.

AGEING
Malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in tanks, then the wine is transferred into French oak barrels made by the Tonnellerie des Domaines in Pauillac (80% new oak) for a period of 18 months.

TASTING NOTES
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.

TECHNICAL DATA
pH: 3.66
Alcohol: 14%

UPDATED CURBSIDE PICKUP INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Place your online order.
- You will receive 2 emails. The first will acknowledge receipt of your order and the second will let you know that your order is ready for pickup.

2) Please reply to the second email to tell us you want curbside pickup. IMPORTANT: If you have multiple orders to consolidate, please let us know as we will need extra time to get those to the front of the store!
- We will prepare your order(s), move them to the front of the store and send you a confirmation email that curbside pickup is ready.

3) Pull up in front of the store. There is no need to call when you arrive at the store – just roll down your passenger window and let us know the name on the order(s).
- We will put your order(s) in your vehicle. There is no need to step out of your vehicle.

Due to the large number of phone calls we have been receiving and the time it takes to consolidate orders, please reply to the email letting you know that your wine is ready for pickup and give us time stage and consolidate your order(s). There is no need to phone the store to arrange curbside pickup.