Casas del Bosque Casablanca Gran Reserva Syrah 2017

Chile continues to be a source of exceptional wines for quality, value, and variety, which is due largely to a burgeoning number of boutique wineries such as Casas del Bosque that continuously push the envelope on quality through excellent vineyard management, site selection and meticulous attention in the cellar. Casas del Bosque spares no expense in its pursuit of quality, earning it great critical acclaim and numerous awards as this month’s feature, the 2017 Casas del Bosque Casablanca Gran Reserva Syrah, ably attests.

Casas del Bosque sprang to life in 1993 as a family boutique winery dedicated exclusively to the production of high quality wines. And by all accounts this boutique operation is certainly fulfilling its mission, as the recent spate of 90+ point ratings from world renowned critics lends credence to Casas del Bosque’s acumen. Casas del Bosque is located just 40 miles from Chile’s capital of Santiago and a mere 18 miles from Chile’s principal port of Valparaiso. This boutique operation cultivates its own vineyards in the nearby Casablanca Valley, Chile’s premium terroir for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and most especially Syrah. They also have significant vineyard holdings in the premier red wine producing valleys of Maipo and Rapel south of Santiago, areas noted for fashioning exceptional Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon. Casas del Bosque’s meticulous attention to all aspects of viticulture, sorting, and selection guarantee superior fruit for the winery’s portfolio of high quality wines. Such care has in multiple years earned Casas del Bosque the distinction of Chilean Winery of the Year (2013 and 2014) at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Presently, Casas del Bosque has at least 500 acres of vines under cultivation, which are spread throughout Chile’s best viticultural valleys and microclimates. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling hail from the winery’s superb Casablanca holdings and form the backbone of the estate’s white wine portfolio. Exceptional Pinot Noir and Syrah are also cultivated by Casas del Bosque in Casablanca, with a previous release of Gran Reserva Syrah having been named Best of Show at the Wines of Chile Awards. Casas del Bosque’s exceptional ultra-premium Carmenère and Cabernet Sauvignon red wines emanate from warmer vineyards in the Rapel and Maipo valleys. The winery’s Gran Reserva and Pequeñas Producciones (very limited productions) of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Syrah are Casas del Bosque’s ultimate luxury offerings.