Casa Bauzá Veraz Cabernet Franc 2019

Winemaker Natalia’s aim with this wine is to prove that Chile is capable of making Cabernet Franc that ranks up there with the best in the world. 

To do that she needed to find a vineyard with spectacular fruit. This led her to Pumanque in the fresher, western part of Colchagua Valley, and a vineyard owned by one of Chile’s big wine companies.

The vineyard manager here is one of the best in the country, in charge of supplying the grapes for some of the most luxurious and expensive wines in Chile. He’s known Natalia for years, so he let her select the best corner of the vineyard for this wine.

Natalia tells me making Cabernet Franc is tricky business. It takes a while to show itself, so you have to trust the winemaking process. 

And no expense is spared along the way. These are the priciest grapes that Natalia buys for Casa Bauza, and she ages the wine for 24 months in big 2,500L French oak casks made by one of the best European coopers. 

The nose is so pure and luxurious. The high quality oak is there, but it frames the vibrant and intense Cabernet Franc fruit. Then on the palate it’s juicy, earthy and complex, with a lovely minty and savoury edge. It’s drinking well now, but will reward you with a few more years’ ageing.

This wine is a personal challenge for Natalia - she wants to make Chile’s best Cabernet Franc. There aren’t too many other examples around these parts, but I dare say you needn’t look past this one!