Aruma Malbec by Caro 2024

Winery Background and History

Bodegas CARO is a prestigious Franco-Argentine joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Château Mouton Rothschild) and Catena family of Argentina. Established in Mendoza, the project aims to combine Bordeaux winemaking precision with high-altitude Argentine terroir expression. The Aruma label was created as a pure Malbec expression to showcase Argentina’s signature grape in a fresh, fruit-driven and approachable style. “Aruma” means “night” in Quechua, referring to the deep Andean nights that shape grape ripening and aromatic intensity. The estate focuses on balance between Old World structure and New World fruit purity.

Producer and Wine Maker

The wine is produced under Bodegas CARO with winemaking led by Philippe Rolet. The philosophy is to preserve varietal purity while maintaining elegance and precision. The winemaking team emphasizes freshness, balance, and drinkability rather than heavy extraction. Aruma is designed as a gateway wine to Malbec from premium terroir, reflecting both Catena’s vineyard expertise and Rothschild’s blending discipline. The goal is to express Malbec in a clean, modern, fruit-forward style with consistency across vintages and accessibility for both casual and premium markets.

Vineyards and Micro Climate

Grapes are sourced from high-altitude vineyards in Mendoza, particularly Uco Valley sub-zones such as El Peral and Los Chacayes. Vineyards sit approximately 900–1,200 meters above sea level, where intense sunlight and cool Andean nights create strong diurnal temperature variation. This slows ripening, preserves acidity, and enhances aromatic lift. Soils are alluvial with sandy and rocky composition, providing drainage and concentration. The 2024 growing conditions continued Mendoza’s signature balance of ripeness and freshness, producing expressive fruit with controlled alcohol perception and refined tannin structure.

Vinification & Aging Methods

Hand-harvested Malbec grapes are carefully sorted and fully destemmed before fermentation in stainless steel tanks under controlled temperature. Maceration typically lasts 12–15 days with gentle extraction techniques such as pump-overs to preserve fruit purity and avoid excessive tannin. The wine is aged entirely in stainless steel or neutral vessels with no oak influence, ensuring a fresh and varietal-driven profile. This method preserves aromatic intensity, bright fruit expression, and accessibility while maintaining the hallmark softness and velvety texture typical of Mendoza Malbec.

Tasting Notes

Deep purple ruby color with vibrant intensity. The nose shows fresh blackberry, plum, black cherry, and violet floral notes, supported by subtle herbal undertones. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with juicy fruit core, soft and polished tannins, and bright but balanced acidity. Flavors of ripe black fruits, red berries, and light spice dominate, with a clean mineral edge. The finish is smooth, fresh, and moderately long, emphasizing drinkability over complexity. Overall expression is pure, energetic, and highly approachable with a modern, fruit-driven Malbec style.

Food & Wine Pairing

Aruma Malbec 2024 pairs well with a wide range of casual and premium grilled dishes. Ideal with ribeye steak, beef burgers, grilled lamb chops, and BBQ short ribs. It also works with roast chicken, duck breast, and pasta with meat-based sauces such as ragù. For cheese pairing, semi-hard cheeses like Manchego, Gouda, and aged Cheddar complement its fruit-forward profile. The wine’s soft tannins and fresh acidity make it versatile for both rich and slightly spicy cuisine, including Argentine barbecue and Mediterranean-style grilled vegetables.

Grape Varietals & Percentage Used

• 100% Malbec

Scores

Wine Enthusiast: 90
James Suckling: 91
Wine Advocate: 90