2017 Bodegas Caro (Barons de Rothschild / Catena) Amancaya

Community Tasting Notes (28) Avg Score: 89 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View snarfglk's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/18/2024 - snarfglk wrote: 88 Points

  88-
  just blah, no character

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • View vandal16's profile
  • Report Issue

  12/30/2023 - vandal16 wrote: 90 Points

  Blend of Malbec (72%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (28%). Dark ruby color with purple highlights. Deep aromas of dark cherry, figs and white flowers. Bold dark fruit flavors on the palate with additional notes of baking spices and white pepper. Nice (light) oak integration on the long finish. Juicy, plush and complex. Fruit forward but under control and elegant.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Sagan99's profile
  • Report Issue

  6/24/2023 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 83 Points

  I'm no longer an Argentinian Malbec lover. That far passed me over with it's candy coated makeover mission many years ago.
  
  But when the the famed Chateau Lafitte joins anyone, even Catena, I thought there's gotta be a little magic happen? Not.
  
  It's ok... and I know I have this Malbec bias.
  But, this is Lafitte!!! Surely they can alter "Big Gulp" character within which Malbec infiltrates these Argentina wines? Not.
  
  But, it's better.
  
  However, on yet another occasion, in my cellar, without reviewing my own CT notes, I found a wine I'd forgotten about.... And mentioned a year ago, to drink up??
  I better start using this thing the way it's meant to be used. My own..., Stupidity?
  Alas, another lesson learned!
  
  This wine Looks the same, as it did a year ago. Purple.
  Tastes the same... but with only slightly more character.
  Mildly longer finish, about 40 seconds.
  
  It's time to drink this thing... Out from the cellar and onto my wife's "drinking rack"!
  
  But, I'm pleasantly surprised that it's actually improved and not started to oxidize yet. I'm not happy enough to bump the score, but enough to drink it, rather than cook with it!! 😆
  
  Alas, I was lucky with at least 9 bottles left.
  
  Time to get on with the party with this baby,!
  Pop the cork before years end, and save one bottle for 5 years, to see if I was completely nuts!
  
  
  PS. PS- Drink the Rainbow

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View WojoWine's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/6/2023 - WojoWine Likes this wine: 94 Points

  O

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Sagan99's profile
  • Report Issue

  8/2/2022 - Sagan99 wrote: 87 Points

  When Lafite Rothschild takes a boat to Argentina to grow grapes and blend juices in Mendoza, at sub $20 a bottle, anyone interested in wine has to take notice. Catena is there too, but let's be honest in that I bought this because of the 1855 First Growth's resume, not Catena, as good as they can be!
  
  28% CS, 72% Malbec.
  14% abv
  
  This wine needs a little air to open up and show it's resolving tannins and structure.
  It's a ruby-garnet color liquid, with medium-pronounced intensity. Dark and red fruits The usual plums, black berry and vanilla, are present, along with an earthiness, a little tobacco and chocolate shavings. Cherries.
  
  An interesting blend, and as with other Mendoza wines, it's got a nice balance of acidity( a little high/sour?) and fruit, though the wine is out medium body, which may be expected by some.
  
  For me, I expected more grippiness and a more full mouthfeel. Maybe it's a Lafite bias I have?
  
  Finish was short - less then 30 seconds.
  
  I had this wine about 18 months ago. It's developed in colour, but seems to have lost a the bouquet, and certainly the finish. With 14% alcohol, I'm uncertain as to why this wasn't more evident.
  
  With that knowledge, and with a couple cases to go, I think this will be a name to drink sooner then later.
  It might get better in a couple of years, but again, as with these Argentinian wines, with big names behind them, it allows annual income, while they hold back the big wines and the accompanying big payday on Chateau Lafite! 🍷
  
  Still they said, I expected more from this partnership. Obviously they know how to make wine, but seems they are experimenting here.
  
  In the end, it's $20!!! Not $1000!
  
  C'est la vie.... And drink it in the next few years!
  
  Addendum- Just read RP critique.About 50% of this wine matured in lightly toasted Lafite oak barrels and 50% in concrete vats, for 1 year.
  That makes me think the lack of finish, little structure and tannins, are totally planned out in this wine-
  he says drink before 2023!!!
  
  Addendum 2- left this overnight in decanter without any alteration to the wine, but maybe slightly more tannin than day 1. My commentary remains.
  Drink up!
  
  Here's the wine link and the marketing "discussion".
  https://lafite.vin.co/JFH4RE
  
  PS- Drink the rainbow!

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

View all 28 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.