The 2009 Caro Blend is made up of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 18 months in 80% new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it is a serious wine with a Bordeaux-like personality. Captivating aromas of sandalwood, exotic spices, violets, leather, and assorted black fruits titillate the nose while pointing to a full-bodied, plush, layered wine that manages to stay light on its feet despite its size. It is the best Caro that I have tasted to date and mandates another 3-4 years of cellaring, reaching its peak from 2015 to 2029. Bodegas Caros wines are a collaboration of Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Nicolas Catena.