“Working with only the best grapes of the year, Le Dix is the result of terroir and time”, introduces Philippe Rolet, Technical Director.
DBR Lafite’s Chilean icon, Le Dix de Los Vascos, has stayed true to its roots since its debut in 1996. The 2018 vintage of the grand-cru-style wine has been released with a new identity. Le Dix benefits from a longer maturation in the bottle for greater complexity.
The Wine
Le Dix stays true to its Chilean roots while integrating the DBR Lafite spirit and the same care they lavish on their Châteaux wines. Viña Los Vascos’ director Philippe Rolet and his team work only with the best grapes of the year. They carefully select grapes by hand, which are aged for 18 months in French oak barrels crafted at the Tonnelleries des Domaines in Pauillac. As Le Dix continues to age in the bottle, the wine reveals an even deeper richness and complexity highlighted by powerful tannins and aromas of ripe fruit and spicy notes of cedar, laurel, and eucalyptus.
The Vineyard
At the foot of the Cordillera de la Costa mountains, Viña Los Vascos is about 150 meters above sea level and just 40 kilometers from the Pacific coast, and it flourishes thanks to these two climatic influences. Hot, dry days are balanced by cool nights, making it the perfect environment for the slow maturation of Cabernet Sauvignon. And thanks to the dramatic temperature drop at night, the grapes retain a good level of freshness. The vineyards of El Fraile was replanted in 1959 with the best pre-phylloxera vines found on the estate, and even contains Malbec plants that were once found in Bordeaux. Le Dix is crafted from a mix of high-density, high-quality grapes that also include Syrah and Carménère. Enrique Marquez, Vineyard Manager, said “Everything we do is according to time and season — we never want to rush nature, but instead work with it to reveal the best of that vintage.”
A New Identity
The label artwork was commissioned from an artist who chose to interpret the vine in all its verticality – from the roots, entangled in the terroir, up to the branches, sky, stars, and moon. The moon also symbolizes the important role the cool night sky plays at Los Vascos.
The Vintage 2018
The bright, deep ruby-red wine has a complex nose, with aromas of black cherry, ripe strawberry, and plum, with a hint of oak and notes of cedar and dark chocolate. Considered one of the best vintages of the decade, Le Dix 2018 has soft, firm tannins and balanced acidity, and features a final blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Syrah.