Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva (Lafite)

Description

Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva (Lafite) is the new name for the old Los Vascos Grande Reserve. This red wine blend is made by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in Chile. The wine has been given a new name, and the label has had a facelift. While the wine is similar, it has moved to a slightly richer and juicier style. There is also a Los Vascos Cromas Carmenere Gran Reserva.

Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) took over the Vina Los Vascos estate (Los Vascos meaning The Basque, in honour of its Basque origins) in 1988. At the time, the property extended to some 2,200 hectares, of which 220 hectares were under vine. The new Los Vascos project included major investment under the direction of the Technical Director at Château Lafite Rothschild from 1983 to 1994. The vineyard was restructured, a replanting programme was established and yields were reduced. Drilling provided a plentiful source of water and a weather monitoring station was installed in the vineyards. The bodega itself was enlarged and modernised step by step to cope with the new requirements in winemaking and ageing. The refurbishment included the installation of stainless steel tanks, pneumatic presses and improvement to the barrel cellar.

Los Vascos is now a single-plot, 580-ha vineyard in the heart of a 3,600 hectare hacienda. The knowledge of the terroirs accumulated over 20 years has been used to refine the qualitative approach in the vineyard and in the winemaking. The decision to adopt large-scale drip irrigation and to grow more grape varieties have also brought new possibilities to the expression, balance and complexity of all the wines in the range.

The grapes for the Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva (Lafite) come from selected plots at the foothills of Santa Lucia, where they benefit from optimal exposure and light intensity. The contrast between daytime and nighttime temperature is particularly extreme in these vineyards which means that the conditions are particularly favourable for the grapes to slowly mature.

Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva (Lafite) is a blend comprised principally of Cabernet Sauvignon with some Syrah and Cabernet Franc. After careful sorting and desteming, grapes are placed in stainless steel tanks for fermentation. Regular pump-overs ensure a gentle extraction of the tannins. After malolactic fermentation, 50% of the wine is transferred into French oak barrels for a period of 12 months.

The 2019 is a blend of Cabernet sauvignon 88%, Syrah 10% and Carmenere 2%.