CARO Amancaya 2020
#17 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2022
Served @ DBFW's "Wines of Lafite" tasting
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. 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 wine: CARO. Two noble grapes, two families, one dear and elegant wine.
The idea of forming a partnership between Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and the Catena family was born in 1999. Initial enthusiasm quickly became a concrete plan to produce a single wine that would combine French and Argentine cultures and the two signature grapes of each producer, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Catena family has produced wine for three generations. Consequently, it was able to draw on its vast knowledge of the high altitude terroirs of the Mendoza region as well as its passion for Malbec to find the best vineyards. DBR (Lafite) contributed its centuries-old skills in growing, vinifying and ageing great Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as its know-how in blending different grape varieties to produce one wine that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Winemaker Notes: Deep red color with intense ruby hues. Very fruity on the nose, with blackcurrant, strawberry, floral and minty notes coming through, followed by aromas of cassis, graphite and coffee bean. On the palate, the wine is balanced and pleasant, with texture and refined tannins. A fruity middle palate leads to an elegant and long aftertaste.
Elegantly detailed aromas of violet, mace and crushed raspberry pave a nice entry to this richly textured red, which shows fleshy plum and raspberry flavors midpalate, lightened by an underpinning of minerality, before toasty mocha notes and round tannins arrive on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.
There's more ripeness in the nose and flavors of the 2020 Amancaya, reflecting the warm and dry vintage. It has 14.5% alcohol and was produced with a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec, reversing the dominant grape to combine the fruit and freshness of Malbec with the power and complexity of Cabernet Sauvignon. Fifty percent of the volume matured in oak barrels while the other half was kept in concrete to keep the fruit-driven profile with a soft palate and round tannins.
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