Los Vascos Cromas Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc

Los Vascos, the Rothschild family's Colchagua Valley property established in 1978, sits on the eastern foothills of the Andes where diurnal temperature swings and well-drained alluvial soils create ideal conditions for Cabernet Franc. The Gran Reserva expression selects fruit from the estate's oldest Franc blocks, where elevation and aspect moderate ripeness and preserve the varietal's natural acidity.

The wine undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation in stainless steel, followed by 18 months in French oak (mix of new and neutral vessels), allowing the fruit to develop complexity without oak dominance. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel, softening the wine's natural structure while retaining freshness.

Cabernet Franc from this terroir expresses itself through red-fruit intensity and herbal undertones rather than the jammy ripeness common in warmer Chilean regions. The special character here lies in the varietal's transparency—tannins remain fine-grained and integrated, acidity stays prominent, and the wine drinks with the restraint of a cool-climate expression despite Colchagua's warm reputation.