DBR Lafite Begins a New Chapter for Le Dix, The Flagship Wine Produced at its Los Vascos estate in Chile  

New chapters in life are exciting and invigorating – they can open up possibilities that one may have never dreamed. It’s the same for new chapters throughout the wine world and those at DBR Lafite (Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite) know it. They’ve turned a page in the story of Le Dix, their flagship wine produced at the Los Vascos estate in Chile. With a new bottle design and label as well as the Domaine’s accelerated pace of conversion to organic agriculture, the story begs to be read. To understand these changes, I recently caught up with Philippe Rolet, Technical Director of DBR Lafite, who shared his thoughts and insights.

 

Rolet explained the backstory of Le Dix. “When Eric de Rothschild bought the property in 1988, he challenged the team to produce an iconic wine at the estate. Vineyards were explored for their potential during the first vintages and in 1991, el Fraile Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was selected for its quality. Between 1991 and 1995, the winery produced limited editions of Le Dix which were not launched commercially but used to refine the style. Le Dix was finally produced in 1996 and presented to the public in 1998. It has been one of the first iconic wines to be produced in Chile. Little of the wine has changed since. In 2006 we allowed ourselves to increase the percentage of secondary grapes in Le Dix to 15%, but Cabernet Sauvignon produced out of Fraile vineyards remains the heart and soul.

With the 2018 vintage, we thought that it was time for a change in its presentation including a more elegant bottle. The label has been re-imagined by an artist who created a painting that represents the vine in all its verticality: from the roots, a microcosm closely entangled to the land from which it draws stability and nutriments, all the way up to the macrocosm of branches and leaves which breathe into the atmosphere and connect to the stars, the moon and the greater universe.”

Several years earlier, I tasted Le Dix de Los Vascos 2014 to celebrate Château Lafite Rothschild’s first ten years in Chile. A memorable blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère and Syrah from the Colchagua Valley, I remember remarking that Le Dix “is a fitting bow to a game-changing collaboration Between DBR Lafite and Los Vascos.”

And now this. A striking label by Chilean photographer Nicolas Amaro on Le Dix de Los Vascos 2018 (around $60) is an enticing introduction to the wine. A balanced, complex Bordeaux blend of more than 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Syrah from 50 year old vines, the wine is rife with rich, lush fruit including black cherries, ripe plums and dark chocolate along with spice-filled notes of wood, mint and flowers. The hand harvested grapes were aged for 18 months in French oak barrels made in DBR Lafite’s cooperage in Pauillac. By all accounts, the 2018 vintage was one of the best of the decade and Le Dix 2018 is a brilliant expression of Chilean terroir blended with the spirit of DBR Lafite.

The conversion to organic viticulture is a hot topic and Rolet was happy to elaborate.  “Saskia de Rothschild stepped in to manage the group three years ago. She has a deep social and environmental consciousness and encouraged all of the Lafite estates to move to organic farming, while also respecting each estate’s individuality and how important it is for us to go at our own pace. At Los Vascos, part of our estate had already been managed and certified organic for years, so it was a natural move. But today our sustainable engagement goes beyond cultivating organic vineyards. For example, all wastewater at the winery is treated and reused for irrigation. At the end of 2023, we anticipate that 93% of the energy consumed at the estate will be from renewable origin, of which 35% will be self-produced at the estate.

At Los Vascos, a circular economy is applied wherever possible. For example, all plant waste generated in the vineyard (from pruning wood to grape stalks to marc) is composted for fertilizer at any one of the winery’s composting plants. The irrigation system has been updated, allowing for optimal application of water and fertilizers directly to the root zone of the vines and across 100% of the vineyard. Biodiversity is equally as important. The winery’s forestry program protects and supports 3,590 acres of natural and cultivated meadows and 72 acres of water reserve ponds. Spread out across 40% of the winery’s property, these habitats provide an abundance of flora and fauna, and a precious refuge for birdlife. Studies on ecological diversity at the estate show the rich diversity of bird species, which find in Los Vascos a vast extension of terrestrial and lake habitats where they can settle. The installation of beehives takes advantage of the range of the native flora and provides yet another habitat for local species.”

Rolet continued. “Both estates in Argentina (Bodegas CARO) and Chile are currently under conversion to organic farming. Los Vascos vineyard is already certified in part and, considering its size, I estimate that all vineyards will be certified by 2028. All Bodegas CARO vineyards will be certified by 2026. Even if the climate differs depending on which side of the Andes Mountains you’re on, both countries offer favorable conditions for growing organic grapes. In parallel to this transition, both estates have been pursuing a “zero herbicides” mission for several years eliminating pesticides classified as potentially cancerogenic, mutagenic or containing endocrine disruptors.”

 

Le Dix 2018 is a wine to be discovered now and in years to come. Older vintages that have been in the cellar will also be released this year as “Cosechas Antiguas” or “Ancient Harvests. The 2010 vintage will be included. Now, with the conversion to organic viticulture, the story of DBR Lafite continues to be a page-turner.

Cheers! ~ Cindy

If you have time for one more article, read An Anniversary Celebration for the Land, People and Wines of Los Vascos. “ Please click here.