Santa Rita : Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Santa Rita

Tasting

Color
The color reveals a deep, intense ruby red.

Nose
The nose reveals pure aromas of blackcurrant and ripe cherries, accompanied by notes of graphite and light touches of cedar. The bouquet is further enriched with fragrances of green pepper, tobacco, and black fruits, with nuances of dark chocolate, black licorice, oolong tea, and wild strawberry.

Palate
On the palate, the wine stands out for its concentration and precision. Firm, round tannins form an elegant structure that ensures a beautiful aromatic persistence. The texture is silky, balanced, and harmonious, with a medium to high acidity that is perfectly integrated. The medium to full body offers a long, complex finish.

Food and wine pairing
This wine pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, beef fillet, or elaborate preparations such as beef Wellington. It also elegantly accompanies slow-cooked stews, braised meats, and aged cheeses. Game meats such as venison also make an excellent pairing.

Service and storage
The Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 benefits from being decanted one to two hours before serving. It is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 20°C. This wine has an aging potential exceeding twenty years.

An iconic Cabernet Sauvignon from the Maipo Valley

The estate
Founded in 1880 by Domingo Fernández Concha, Viña Santa Rita stands as one of the most prestigious estates in Chile. Located in the Maipo Valley, forty-five minutes from Santiago, the estate now spans more than three thousand hectares of vines across several Chilean wine regions. Since 1980, the estate has belonged to the Claro Group and is currently led by Baltazar Sánchez Guzmán as president. Sebastián Labbé has held the position of winemaker responsible for the ultra-premium wines since 2017. Santa Rita was the first Chilean wine group certified under the Chilean Wine Sustainability Code and stands out for its environmental commitment and innovative viticultural practices.

The vineyard
The Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 comes exclusively from the Carneros Viejo block located in Alto Jahuel, in the Maipo Valley. This exceptional vineyard sits at an altitude of about five hundred meters, on ancient alluvial terraces of the Maipo River. The soils are composed of alluvial deposits with a significant clay subsoil, positioned on the third and fourth river terraces. The climate benefits from pure sunshine, dry weather, and irrigation from Andean snowmelt. The puelche wind, which descends from the Andes every evening, causes temperature drops of about twenty degrees Celsius, creating an ideal thermal range for grape ripening while preserving freshness and aromatic complexity.

The vintage
The 2019 season began with a winter less rainy than average and a warmer spring, ensuring excellent flowering and fruit set. During the crucial months of March and April leading up to the harvest, temperatures remained relatively cool, creating ideal conditions for tannin ripening while preserving freshness and acidity. The 2019 vintage is characterized by high temperatures that gradually decreased from February onward, allowing for complete tannin ripening while maintaining remarkable freshness in the final wine. The harvested grapes were healthy, with very ripe tannins and wonderful aromas.

Winemaking and aging
The grapes for the Casa Real Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 are hand-harvested in the Carneros Viejo block. Berry selection is carried out using optical sorters for maximum precision. Fermentation takes place in concrete tanks. The wine is then aged for about eighteen months in first- and second-use French oak barrels. The wine is bottled without filtration or clarification, thus preserving the full extent of its aromatic and gustatory complexity.

Grape variety
100% Cabernet Sauvignon