Bodegas Caro Petit Caro 2021
£20.95 incl. VAT
12 in stock
Deep ruby with violet hues. The nose offers blueberry, cassis and red cherry alongside notes of violets, dark chocolate and warm spice. Medium-full bodied with ripe, smooth tannins, bright acidity and a long spice-tinged finish. A Lafite-Catena collaboration at its most approachable.
2021 Vintage — Mendoza, Argentina
The 2021 growing season in Mendoza was challenging but ultimately delivered quality. Spring frosts caused yield losses of up to 25% in parts of Eastern Mendoza, while a cool and rainy summer with above-average February precipitation required careful canopy management to prevent disease pressure. The cooler conditions pushed harvest later than normal, but a drier autumn allowed grapes to ripen evenly and achieve full phenolic maturity. The result was wines with excellent natural acidity, concentrated fruit and strong ageing potential — widely considered one of the finest Mendoza vintages of the past decade.
Petit Caro is produced by Bodegas Caro, the joint venture between Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and the Catena family. The 2021 blend is 69% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Ancellotta. Grapes are hand-harvested, carefully sorted and destemmed before fermentation in stainless steel tanks with regular pump-overs for gentle tannin extraction. The wine is aged for 12 months, split between French oak barrels and concrete vats, preserving freshness and fruit character while adding subtle structure and complexity.
