Caro 2022 (Mendoza; 83% Malbec; 17% Cabernet Sauvignon; 14.6% alcohol). Clear, luminous, but densely structured. Floral, with peony and a wild garrigue herbal element. Tightly structured, quite strict and quite linear. Blocky. Foursquare. Serious. This is very much a vin de garde, impressively so. Very pure, above all on the finish. Dense and compact.

The 2022 Caro is 83% Malbec and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon from Altamira, Gualtallary and San Pablo. It fermented in concrete vats and matured in a combination of barrique, foudre and concrete for 14 months. A beautiful, multifaceted bouquet of purple flowers, espresso and gravel melds with a dense core of black fruits, followed by a suave, seductive palate that balances contained opulence with pedigree and elegance. It culminates in an even-keeled, long and layered finish of luscious fruits, integrated oak flavors and fine-grained, powdery tannins. A classical expression of Uco Valley rendered with restraint, this should be a joy to follow in the cellar well past its first decade.