There is something about Chilean Cab. First of all, Chile is the second biggest producer of this variety, after its homeland, France. While most people associate the variety with Bordeaux or Napa, the truth is that Maipo Valley in Chile is home to some pretty interesting Cabernets, with a distinctive style of their own. The region is cooler than Napa, and more akin to the Médoc in France or Coonawarra in Australia. The grapes that Casas del Bosque sources for their Gran Reserva come from old ungrafted hillside vineyards, planted in the late 1950’s, and the approach taken towards this variety is, quite simply, don´t overdo it and just let the fruit shine. From the selection of the grapes to the vinification and ageing process, the core idea is to express the spicier, slightly minty notes that make Chilean Cabernet so special. The result is a concentrated, juicy and easy to pair Cabernet Sauvignon, with notes of tobacco that go pretty well with not just red meats, but even vegetarian food, adding versatility to this variety. Seldom do
we come across a wine that over-delivers like this, vintage after vintage.