£45.50 / bottle
6 in stock
| Origin | Chile, Colchagua |
|---|---|
| Main Grapes | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Other Grapes | Syrah |
| Vintages | 2018 |
| Bottle Sizes | 75cl |
| Website | Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) |
Le Dix de Los Vascos is the top Chilean red wine blend from Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). Le Dix was relaunched in 2018 with a fantastic new label featuring a painting made with midnight blue India ink embodies the spirit of Le Dix. Natural and premium paper stock with strong fibres means no two labels are ever identical. The wine is only released in good vintages, there was no Le Dix released in 1998 or in 2005, for example.
In 1988 the Los Vascos estate (meaning “The Basque”, in honour of its Basque origins) 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 put in place 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. Le Dix, of course, means “10” in French and the first vintage of Le Dix de Los Vascos was released in 1996 to celebrate their first 10 years in Chile, although it was not until 1988 when DBR fully took control of Vina Los Vascos.
The grapes for Le Dix de Los Vascos primarily come from an exceptional 70 year old vineyard known as the “El Fraile”, which means “The Monk”. It is planted with 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and is quite large at 200 acres, however, due to the age of the vines, careful vineyard management and very particular cuvee selection the yields are kept very low. The grapes are all hand-picked and sorted by hand at sorting tables. They are then fermented in stainless steel at 30c with pumping over to extract the best flavours, aromatic and colour from the grapes. This was followed by a long maceration for 20 to 25 days followed by malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks. Finally, after a careful selection, the wines good enough to become Le Dix are aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (60% new) from Lafite’s own cooperage, Tonnellerie des Domaines in Pauillac, in Bordeaux.
Los Vascos Le Dix 2018 is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Syrah.
From DBR, “Le Dix has a beautiful intense, bright, deep red colour.
The nose is complex, with aromas of black cherry, ripe strawberry and plum, underscored by a hint of oak, with delicate notes of cedar, graphite and dark chocolate. On the palate, this great vintage is revealed in all its splendour, with soft, firm tannins and, thanks to the cool
nights at Los Vascos, some acidity to accompany this balance. Without doubt one of the best vintages of the decade.”
95 Points – James Suckling
