Los Vascos : Le Dix 2017

A great, ample and balanced Chilean wine revealed by Lafite-Rothschild

The estate

The vine accompanied Spanish conquerors to the north of Chile in the 16th century. The quality of Chilean wines became more and more refined as the work at the vineyard took shape. Such is the case of the Los Vascos estate, which has benefited from the inimitable know-how of Château Lafite-Rothschild since 1988. Seduced by these soils, which bring together the ideal conditions for cultivating great wines, this hallmark Bordeaux wine completely restructured the vineyard and modernised the estate. Between new plantations and state-of-the-art vinification tools, Los Vascos is the ideal estate for all enthusiasts in the search of excellence.

The vineyard

The Los Vascos vineyard is in one piece, just a few dozen kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Syrah, Malbec and Chardonnay vines cover 640 hectares, making Los Vascos one of the biggest wine-growing areas in the Central Valley. Some plots are aged by 15 years on average, while others house vines that are 40 or 50 years old.

The wine

The Le Dix de Los Vascos cuvée was created to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Domaines des Barons de Rothschild in Chile. Since then, this complex, fine and elegant cuvée was produced from an exceptional terroir called "El Fraile" during great years for Cabernet Sauvignons aged over 70 years.

The vintage

The 2017 vintage opened with a winter that was a little more rainy than usual, notably during budding, and at temperatures in the normal range for the season. Subsequently, spring was hot, which required irrigation to be carried out earlier than in previous vintages. The high temperatures lasted throughout the summer, leading to early harvests.

Winemaking and ageing

After the harvests, the grapes are taken to the cellar to begin a traditional winemaking process. The wine ages in barrels for 18 months, with a proportion of 60% new barrels.

Blend

The 2017 Le Dix de Los Vascos is made of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Syrah.

Tasting

Colour

The 2017 Le Dix is a beautifully deep ruby colour.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet expresses a complexity sustained by aromas of cherry and plum and enhanced by hints of liquorice and spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and white pepper.

Palate

The 2017 Le Dix is a wine with a beautiful volume and balance. The tannins are ripe but balanced out by a good level of concentration, offering a very pleasant sensation on the palate.

Serving and keeping

The 2017 CARO is an exceptional wine which will express all of its complexity after ageing in bottle. For optimal tasting, leave to settle for at least 2 hours and serve between 16 and 18 degrees.