Château Los Boldos Tradition Réserve, `Tradición Reserva` Cachapoal Valley Merlot
Vintage: 2023
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | LB611B23 | 6 x 75 | Screwcap | Available |
Producer
Château Los Boldos has transformed since being purchased by Sogrape in 2008. Based in Chile’s Cachapoal Valley, they hired renowned soil scientist and viticultural consultant Pedro Parra to assess their estate vineyards and match grape varieties to a myriad of soil types. Additionally advising on types of rootstocks, planting density, orientation and irrigation frequency, Pedro’s work has transformed these vineyards, resulting in exceptional fruit quality. This is well reflected in Château Los Boldos’ wines, which are carefully made by head winemaker Diego Veragara and renowned consultant, Alberto Antonini.
The estate’s first vineyards were planted in 1948 and today Château Los Boldos has 170 hectares of vineyards planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah. The Cachapoal Valley, in the foothills of the Andes, has a Mediterranean climate and high diurnal range, making it ideal for growing grapes that retain fresh acidity while achieving optimum ripeness. The nearby Cachapoal River also moderates temperatures, while stony alluvial soils in the vineyard ensure low yields. Château Los Boldos makes wine using fruit exclusively from their own vineyards, therefore retaining control from grape to bottle and ensuring consistently high quality in their wines.
Château Los Boldos’s wines are fruit-forward with distinct varietal characteristics. The whites are unoaked and fermented at a cool 13°C to retain freshness. The Sauvignon Blanc is bright and aromatic with vibrant acidity and the Chardonnay displays tropical fruit and citrus characters. The reds are aged in used French oak barrels for six months. The Merlot is well balanced with soft tannins, while the Carmenère is plush with plenty of blackberry and cassis character. The Cabernet Sauvignon has good structure with spicy blackcurrant notes.
The `Gran Reserva` wines are produced from a careful selection of plots in the Cachapoal vineyards, from vines aged over 10 years old. Both wines are harvested by hand, before ageing in French oak barrels for 10 months. The Cabernet Sauvignon is defined by aromas of fresh cassis and black currant. The Carménère has a round, full structure, with notes of ripe plum and dark chocolate.
`Grand Clos` is produced from the best plot within the vineyards, chosen to showcase the elegance of wines grown on alluvial soil. Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels, this wine has soft, silky tannins with spicy cedar notes.
Vineyards
The vineyard is located in Requinoa within the Cachapoal Andes valley. This area has a mediterranean climate which is greatly influenced by the Andes Mountains and the Cachapoal river, which generate a large thermal oscillation between day and night (+/- 20°C). The grapes were sourced from plots planted in 2004. The soil is of alluvial origin, with texture varying from clay, clayey silt loam and silt loam for the first 50 to 70 cm. Below, there is an important presence of gravel and sand that increases with depth. The yields of the vineyards are controlled between 10 to 12 tons/ha. During the growing season, early partial defoliation is carried out to increase the final yield. Irrigation is controlled from veraison to harvest to achieve an optimum maturity of the grapes and efficient and conscious use of water.
Vintage
The 2023 vintage marked the third consecutive year under La Niña conditions, characterised by limited rainfall and persistent dry weather. In the Cachapoal Andes, the 170mm of precipitation proved sufficient to replenish soils for budburst and early vine development, while also ensuring adequate snow accumulation in the Andes to supply irrigation channels throughout the growing season. A mild spring with unusually cold temperatures delayed budburst by approximately 12 days, with these temperate conditions persisting until early November when a series of heat-waves rapidly accelerated vine development. Despite the challenging conditions, the strategic water management and natural mountain resources of the region allowed the vines to navigate the season successfully.
Vinification
The grapes underwent maceration in stainless steel tanks with fermentation lasting eight days at controlled temperatures between 25-28°C. Complete malolactic fermentation followed to soften acidity and enhance complexity. The wine was aged for six months in stainless steel tanks with French oak staves, imparting subtle oak influence while maintaining freshness. Vineyard yields were maintained at 13 tons per hectare, balancing quality and concentration.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
This wine is an intense ruby red colour. Aromas of ripe red fruits including raspberries, strawberries, and sour cherries are blended with a light spicy touch. On the palate this wine is balanced and fresh with soft and pleasant tannins.
Alcohol (ABV)
13.5%
Acidity
5.01 g/l
Residual Sugar
4.06 g/l
pH
3.6
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Château Los Boldos Tradition Réserve | `Tradición Reserva` Cachapoal Valley Carmenère | LB612 | R | ||
| `Tradición Reserva` Cachapoal Valley Sauvignon Blanc | LB613 | W | |||
| `Tradición Reserva` Cachapoal Valley Chardonnay | LB614 | W | |||
| `Tradición Reserva` Cachapoal Valley Cabernet Sauvignon | LB616 | R | |||
| `Grand Clos` Cabernet Sauvignon | LB635 | R | Factsheet |