In commemoration of 10 years of DBR (Lafite)’s work in Chile, the first “grande cuvée” LE DIX was created. Le Dix de Los Vascos originates from 70-year-old vines located in the terroir known as “El Fraile”.
This is a wine of exceptional complexity, balance and elegance, with powerful tannins and aromas of very ripe fruit accentuated by spicy notes of cedar, laurel and eucalyptus.
Cabernet Sauvignon ( more than 85%), Syrah, Carmenère
18 months in oak barrels (60% new)
8,000 to 10,000 cases
Decanting: 2 hours or more
Tasting temperature: 16 -18°C
This season started with extreme temperatures as early as spring, with average low temperatures below the standard, and average high temperatures above 35ºC, mostly in October and November. The summer was very hot as well, with average highs of 37.9ºC. March was cooler, with an average high of 28ºC, which in combination with a large number of cloudy days slowed down the ripening pace. Heavy rains during harvest months –March and April– (95.6mm and 51.4mm, respectively) forced us to reformulate our harvest strategy to ensure grape quality.
The grapes used in Le Dix 2016 were harvested on April 19-28.
TASTING NOTES (AT BOTTLING):
Ruby red color with beautiful brick-like nuances.
Ripe plum and cherry-scented nose that also features notes of licorice, saffron, cinnamon, and nutmeg that enhance the complexity of aromas. Notes of graphite, clove, dark chocolate and cedar take the experience to a whole new level.
Le Dix 2016 is a smooth and supple wine with sweet and friendly tannins. A joyful intellectual.
Serve at 16-18ºC
The season started with a normal winter, with around 400 mm of rain and no sub-zero temperatures. Hot weather in the early spring offered a taste of what was to come in the summer, i.e. high temperatures and an absence of frost. The summer saw record highs of 39.6ºC in February and 39.2ºC in March.
Le Dix 2015 has a beautiful ruby red color. Gorgeous aromas of raspberry and ripe cherry intermingle with notes of black pepper, cocoa, walnut skin, graphite, tobacco, and cedar.
On the palate, this magnificently balanced wine presents a harmonious structure, with refined tannins. A truly elegant offering.
Several frosts occurred during the spring. Although they did not involve extremely low temperatures, they did have a long duration, which resulted in a lower number of clusters per plant. The resulting lower yield – a characteristic well sought after in the case of premium wines– led to increased concentration of aromas and flavors. The summer was hot, with an average daytime high of 35.6ºC in January and February. Conversely, summer nights were cold, with an average low of 4.9ºC. This daytime/nighttime temperature differential proved very beneficial, because it allowed grapes to ripen to perfection.
Deep ruby red color. Raspberry and ripe cherry-scented nose with hints of saffron, paprika, nutmeg, black pepper, chocolate, and tobacco.
A broad-shouldered wine of gorgeous personality, large volume, and elegant and balanced tannin.
The climate conditions were optimal from the technical point of view all through the season. In particular, there were hot days and cool nights during the summer, providing the perfect temperature differential to bring the grapes to optimal ripeness. The absence of rain during the summer allowed us to harvest the grapes in excellent health.
The harvest took place in normal conditions between April and mid-May.
Beautiful, intense red color with garnet shades. The nose is underscored by ripe cherry aromas laced with delicate hints of blackberry, followed by licorice, saffron, paprika, nutmeg, white and black pepper aromas overlaid with notes of cocoa, tobacco, and cedar.
Generous, all-embracing mouthfeel: pleasantly dominant, balanced tannins offer the perfect complement to notes of black olives and a delicate nuance of bitter chocolate. A wine of outstanding elegance and depth.
The winter came to an end in August with heavy rains (107 mm), which resulted in water accumulating in the soil that proved very useful in the months ahead, when rain was scarce. The 8 mm of rain that fell towards the end of the harvest in May did not affect the quality of the fruit.
The harvest started on April 25, 7 days later than in previous years, because the grapes took longer to reach full ripeness. The berries were smaller in size but showed excellent concentration and acidity, fresh fruit and ripe tannins that resulted in an absolutely remarkable mouthfeel.
Deep ruby red color. Expressive nose with fruity aromas of prunes, cherries, and ripe raspberries followed by notes of tobacco, leather, graphite. Ageing in French oak barrels sourced by DBR (Lafite)’s Cooperage gives the wine nice toasty notes that blend to perfection with rose and gooseberry notes and hints of hazelnuts and cinnamon. The broad range of particularly plump tannins from the different varieties in this blend help to create a unique mouthfeel of outstanding complexity.
Rainfall was relatively low (347 mm) in 2010, and so irrigation was necessary as soon as the winter ended, in August and September. This extra water enabled the vines to continue in a normal growth cycle.
Temperatures were cool during the flowering stage resulting in lower yields with less compact bunches. Growth was then healthy and regular, producing grapes of outstanding quality with remarkable concentration. The harvests began on 19 April and took place in optimal conditions. A team of experienced pickers is dedicated to harvesting the grapes for ‘Dix de Los Vascos’ from the vineyard’s oldest plot, ‘El Fraile’.
Deep ruby red colour with light shades of brick. Bouquet of ripe red fruit such as plums, cherries and raspberries which blend with light notes of liqueur. Maturing in French oak barrels from the Tonnellerie de DBR (Lafite) cooperage gives the wine pleasant toasted notes which are well-integrated with flavours of black olives, black pepper, chocolate brownie, walnuts and chestnuts, all underscored with a hint of fresh figs, tobacco and cedar. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with good structure, volume, and tannins which combine to offer a wine of outstanding elegance, balance and personality.
The climate for the 2010 growing season was characterized by less rain and a cooler spring than usual. The grapes for Le Dix de Los Vascos were picked a little over a month after the terrible earthquake that struck the region and two weeks later than the previous year. The manual harvests took place in good conditions. The yield was slightly lower than average because the grapes were smaller but they presented excellent concentration and a remarkable expression of fruit.
Le Dix has a deep, bright red colour. The nose presents ripe, intense red and black fruit aromas with a good level of ripeness that ensures a lovely freshness. Ageing in barrels from DBR (Lafite)’s cooperage in Pauillac gives the wine pleasant toasty, coffee, and cinnamon notes that perfectly combine with the fruity aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, cherry, and blackberry. Notes of liquorice, dark chocolate, peppermint, and black and white pepper complete the bouquet. Intense mouthfeel, good volume and structure. Refined, elegant tannins.
Pleasant, rounded finish.
The vintage was characterized by very favourable conditions of humidity and temperature, from flowering through to the harvest. Vineyard management focused on ensuring low yields and maintaining controlled irrigation to ensure an appropriate water supply for the vines.
In order to obtain consistency among the various plots used to produce Le Dix, multispectral aerial photographs were used in parallel with chemical analyses, monitoring of ripeness and tasting of the grapes. The final result clearly reveals the quality potential and the concentration of the grapes grown in these vineyards.
Deep red colour with hints of purple. The nose presents intense red and black fruit aromas with a ripeness that keeps its freshness. Ageing in French oak barrels from Lafite’s cooperage gives the wine pleasant toasty, vanilla, and cinnamon notes that combine perfectly with the fruit aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, cherry, and blackberry, and notes of caramel, liquorice, black chocolate and various peppers.
Powerful and complex in the mouth. Strong, full-bodied yet delicate and elegant tannins. An invitation to a moment of pure enjoyment, with a prolonged, consistent, well-rounded finish.
Both winter and spring were relatively cold and rainy. We then experienced a warm summer: from the beginning of January to the end of March 2008, there were 75 days above 30°C compared to 49 over the same period in 2007.
Fortunately, no extreme temperatures that could threaten the grape’s growth were registered and, from April, temperatures were more moderate with large differences between night and day. This enabled us to obtain wines with perfectly ripe tannins and spectacular fruit.
The wine is a very deep red colour with purple highlights.
The nose has a very good intensity and reveals fresh, ripe red fruit aromas. It is very pure and well-defined.
The long 18-month ageing brings well-integrated notes of oak. It is accompanied by light toasted and grilled notes that do not dominate the wine. Some spicy notes (characteristic of the Carmenère) are also present.
In the mouth, the wine is, at first, rather soft and discreet but it rapidly acquires an elegant fullness. The tannins, round and supple at first, become powerful and tight. The wine remains harmonious, balanced and presents a fine freshness. This is a typical feature of fine Cabernet Sauvignon when ripening conditions are optimal.
Aromas of violet and eucalyptus are present in the finish, which is very long, full and consistent. The last noticeable tannins are still a little young but will rapidly soften after a few months ageing in the bottle.
The summer had high but not extreme temperatures; autumn was relatively cold at harvest time, enabling us to maintain efficient management of the vineyard late into the season. This produced a fine phenolic maturity to balance the level of alcohol.
Le Dix 2007 has a deep red garnet colour. The powerful nose develops aromas of very ripe black fruit and wild cherries with notes of cedar, laurel, and liquorice. The oak is pleasantly integrated thus complementing the enjoyable aromas of toasted coffee, vanilla, tobacco and cinnamon. The Syrah adds nuances of violets and raspberries. In the mouth, it is round, dense, fresh and fruity. Even though the wine is concentrated, Le Dix remains very balanced and elegant improving the freshness and length with rich but ripe, soft tannins. It finishes with a strong taste of cherry and a light bitterness of walnut skin typical of great Cabernets. The Carmenère adds enjoyable touches of pepper. Good ageing potential. A very fine vintage!
2006 was a late vintage in Chile in spite of an extremely hot summer. It was followed by cool temperatures during the harvest, which permitted good staggering during the picking for optimal ripeness without an explosion in potential alcohol.
Le Dix 2006 has a deep garnet, almost black colour. The powerful nose develops aromas of very ripe black fruit and wild cherries complemented by aromas of wax, cedar, laurel, and liquorice. The oak is pleasantly integrated with the fruit. This gives the wine enjoyable aromas of roasted coffee, vanilla, tobacco and cinnamon. The Syrah adds nuances of violets and raspberries.
In the mouth, it is very long, finishing with a strong taste of cherries (kirsch) and a pleasant hint of liquorice with the light bitterness of walnut peel typical of great Cabernets. The Carmenère adds an enjoyable touch of pepper. This superb wine is already very expressive. It is still young but will rapidly gain in complexity and softness. Very good ageing potential for this excellent vintage!
It was a good weather year with moderate rain in the winter and an ideal spring. A dry summer with high temperatures from December until the harvest brought on a superb concentration in the grapes. A vintage of excellent quality for Los Vascos.
Le Dix 2004 has a deep garnet, almost black colour. The powerful nose develops aromas of ripe black fruit and wild cherries complemented by wax, cedar, laurel and aniseed. The oak is pleasantly integrated with the fruit. This adds agreeable aromas of vanilla, grilled hazelnuts, tobacco and cinnamon. The concentration is impressive but the wine remains very well balanced and elegant, fresh and long, with powerful but well-coated tannins.
Although winter and spring were rather rainy, favourable temperatures then permitted normal growth. The summer was hot and dry, which allowed the grapes to attain optimal ripeness but slightly later than usual. The harvests took place in very good conditions. An outstanding vintage in terms of quality.
Deep colour. Nose presents aromas of dried fruit, red fruit and spices.
The palate is fresh and elegant with nice woody notes and powerful tannins.
A very expressive wine with a good potential for ageing.
Very unusual rain at the end of March caused some concern for the harvests. Fortunately, these took place in very good conditions. The previous summer months had been warm, after a rainy spring.
In these conditions the growing season progressed smoothly to produce excellent quality grapes.
Le Dix 2002 has a deep intense ruby colour and an elegant nose, with a fine expression of black fruit and woody notes. Powerful, concentrated attack on the palate with good tannins and fruit. Pleasantly long, full-bodied finish with lovely freshness.
A perfect year in terms of weather. It was fair and warm from December to March, after a rainy spring. The ripening period took place in the best possible conditions.
Deep crimson colour with aromas of black cherries and leather at the end of the palate. A well-rounded wine with powerful, well-structured tannins and long red fruit flavours.
This was a rather cold year with a long growing season, and unusually there was 32 millimetres of rain in February, which led to late ripening of the grapes.
The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest did not begin until 7 April, the latest for more than 50 years.
The 2000 vintage is characterized by concentration and maturity. Intense garnet colour and a fine, ripe bouquet; on the palate there is remarkable roundness, the wine is dense and mellow, the tannins are very well-integrated, with a distinguished presence, creating good length.
A year marked by fine quality but low volumes. The lack of water in the winter and spring resulted in an early harvest, which began on 8 March for the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Le Dix 1999 has a dense colour, and a rich, elegant, well-structured bouquet. The palate is well-rounded and long due to excellent balance. Delicious fruit and very well-structured.
A rather dry year led to less bunches on the vines and ultimately low production. Excellent ripeness combined with remarkable concentration made this a fine vintage.
This is an intense, expressive, deep wine. The aromatic richness is remarkable, and the finish is long and full-bodied.
Le Dix de Los Vascos 1996 was the first Grand Vin selected to commemorate the first ten years of DBR’s work in Chile. It was only produced in very limited quantities, as a result of the vintage’s concentration and finesse.
This first “Le Dix” is a delightful hint of the wines to follow. It is very much characterized by its terroir, the old vines of “El Fraile”, with a tremendous spicy, fruity aromatic complexity. A well-balanced, full-bodied wine.