Background
Los Vascos wines blend Lafite tradition with the unique terroir of Chile to create elegant wines that bring exceptional to the everyday. The vision of Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite to expand their estate took them to South America in 1988, becoming the first French viticultural investment in modern Chile, oriented towards the production of fine wine using and adapting the viticultural experiences of Bordeaux. “Cromas” is derived from the Greek word for color. The Cromas Gran Reserva range celebrates the many colors found in nature by the distinctive color on its packaging, reflecting the colors of grapes and the colors of the terroir. When exploring elevations at the foothills of the mountains, a specific kind of ochre granite was discovered, ideally suited to plant new vineyards which produce wines of incomparable precision and elegance.
TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES
For this demanding grape variety, the hillsides of Santa Lucia were selected. The soils consist of altered granite with low argile content and the southeastern exposure offers the optimal ripening conditions. There were two frost episodes over the winter that resulted in natural thinning and therefore lower yields, with better quality and concentration of the grapes. A rainy winter gave way to a cool spring where maximum temperatures did not exceed 26°C. The summer had rain at the beginning and unusually low temperatures, undoubtedly the coolest season in recent years. This, of course, is reflected in the wines. It was necessary to inspect, taste and analyze more frequently in order to make the right decision on the harvest date. The 2021 Cabernet Franc was harvested on March 29 and 30, almost two weeks later than the 2020.
Winemaking & Aging
This grape variety calls for a very soft handling in the winery, with extreme caution and patience required during the extraction and maceration phases. Grapes are fermented in small stainless steel tanks; various plots are vinified separately. The wines are aged 80% in oak barrels and 20% in concrete tanks. The wines are then aged in oak barrels for 80% and the remaining 20% in concrete tanks.
