Chateau Los Boldos, Tradition Réserve, Carménère

Chateau Los Boldos, Tradition Réserve, 750 ml
Variety: Carménère
Viña Los Boldos, Andes Cachapoal Valley
Composition: 100% Carménère
Vintage: 2015
Oenologist: Víctor Arce Gatica

Pairing:  This is a wine to pair perfectly with red meats like beef or lamb cooked in herbs sauce, also with seasoned pork, spicy chicken, ham or mature cheeses. Serve at 16°-18°C (56°F-65°F).

Tasting notes:

Colour: This wine shows an intense deep red colour.
Aromas: This wine has red and black cherry notes with black pepper and chocolate on the finish.
Palate: Its rounded texture and fruitiness give it an appealing, plush mouthfeel.

Reference value – Case of 9 litres – equivalent to 12 bottles of 750 cc.
Free on board (FOB) at Valparaíso docks, from (USD) US$ 100 to US$ 120.-

Category:

Chateau Los Boldos was founded in 1991 and is situated 100km south of Santiago in the foothills of the Cachapoal Andes. Working with a portion of old vines originally planted in 1948, their focus from an early stage has been on the production of premium wines. The estate has been transformed since being purchased by Sogrape in 2008. Renowned soil scientist and viticultural consultant Pedro Parra (of Clos des Fous) was brought in to assess the plots and match the right variety to the different soils around the estate. The type of rootstock, planting density, orientation and the frequency of irrigation were all within Pedro’s remit, and the results – significantly improved grapes – are now being seen in the wines, especially since Víctor Arce Gatica, previously of Pérez Cruz winery, joined as winemaker in 2015.

Vineyards

Los Boldos has 190 hectares of vineyards which benefit from a Mediterranean climate. The clear, bright skies during the summer and the high diurnal temperature range are ideal for growing fruit that maintains fresh acidity whilst ripening to perfection. The nearby Cachapoal River also moderates temperatures, while stony alluvial soils in the vineyard ensure low yields. Los Boldos makes wine exclusively from estate vineyards, therefore controlling everything from grape to bottle.

Vintage Information

A rainy winter at the start of the 2014/2015 season helped to accumulate enough water for the entire growing season. January was very cloudy, but February was partially clear and a bit warmer than usual, which allowed harvest to begin at the end of the month with concentrated and aromatic grapes with balanced sugar and acidity levels.

Vinification

The wine was fermented in stainless steel tanks for eight days at temperatures between 25-28°C. 60% of the wine spent six months in French oak barrels before bottling to soften the tannins and add complex layers of flavour.