Los Vascos Cromas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
-
Suckling
James -
Wong
Wilfred - Decanter
-
Enthusiast
Wine
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Intense ruby-red color with glints of garnet. Initially, the nose presents scents of fresh strawberry, red cherry, gooseberry and blue flowers. Then subtle notes of bay, tobacco, caramel and graphite emerge. On the palate, the wine is generous with soft yet lively tannins, leading into a long, lingering finish.
Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 5% Carménère
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
An attractive cabernet sauvignon with blackcurrant, tobacco and some spice. It’s medium-bodied with round tannins and a flavorful finish. Very typical for a cab. 85% cabernet, 10% syrah and 5% carmenere. Delicious now.
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Los Vascos Cromas Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon is well-balanced and ready for the dinner table. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits aromas and flavors of black fruit, dried herbs, and licorice. Enjoy it with a well-seasoned, oven-baked Porchetta. (Tasted; July 26, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
-
Decanter
In the late 1980s, Domaines Barons de Rothschild took over the Los Vascos estate in the Colchagua Valley of Chile. This Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva seriously over-delivers for its $22 SRP. Dark fruit notes of black currant and blackberries make way for secondary and tertiary notes, including spice rack, cigar box, and vanilla. Marked earthiness, cracked black pepper notes, and well-integrated (though prevalent) tannins add to the layers of complexity. Serve this wine with a simply grilled steak.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Spicy berry and plum aromas are easy to process and easy to like. A fresh and healthy palate has lift to its step, while this tastes of saucy, savory berry fruits that show earthy complexity as this unfolds. A spicy, solid finish confirms quality.
Other Vintages
2019-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine
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 estates took them to South America in 1988, becoming the first French viticultural investment in modern Chile. Since then, a comprehensive modernization and investment program has been undertaken, oriented towards the production of fine wine using and adapting the viticultural experiences of Bordeaux and other areas where Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) is present.
Los Vascos is located in Valley de Caneten (Colchagua), a closed valley in the central zone of Chile, approximately 25 miles from the sea. The valley provides a perfect microclimate for high quality viticulture, with Northern exposure to lands uncontaminated by airborne or water-borne pollutants. Daily on-shore winds provide temperature changes between 68-77°F, for optimum maturation of the grapes. With 1581 acres, it is one of the largest vineyards in the central Colchagua valley, at the foot of Mount Cañeten.
Between 1989 and 1995 Winemaker Marcelo Gallardo studied at Universidad Austral de Chile graduating with a degree in Agronomy engineering. Marcelo continued his education studying and graduating from Universidad de Chile between 1998 and 1999 with a degree in Enology and Viticulture in Santiago. In 1999, Marcelo worked as an assistant winemaker at Viña Santa Rita in the Maipo Valley, and interned at Bodega Sandeman, Oporto-Duero in Portugal. After Portugal he performed a harvest at Domain Jandeau in Burgundy, France. Working for Viña Los Vascos since 2000, he became the Chief Winemaker and Production Manager in 2006. Marcelo routinely visits the other Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) properties to bring L’Esprit Lafite to Viña Los Vascos. In addition, he collaborates on the latest developments in technology from top Universities and vineyards.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Well-regarded for intense and exceptionally high quality red wines, the Colchagua Valley is situated in the southern part of Chile’s Rapel Valley, with many of the best vineyards lying in the foothills of the Coastal Range.
Heavy French investment and cutting-edge technology in both the vineyard and the winery has been a boon to the local viticultural industry, which already laid claim to ancient vines and a textbook Mediterranean climate.
The warm, dry growing season in the Colchagua Valley favors robust reds made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah—in fact, some of Chile’s very best are made here. A small amount of good white wine is produced from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.