▻ Casa Real with Baltazar Sánchez
In conversation with Baltazar Sánchez
Episode Summary:-
Sarah Kemp talks to Baltazar Sánchez, the Chairman of the historic Chilean wine estate, Viña Santa Rita, about their flagship wine, Casa Real Reserva Especial, which has just joined La Place de Bordeaux. Casa Real is today regarded as one of Chile’s iconic wines, and is made 100% from Cabernet Sauvignon. It comes from the Carneros Viejos Vineyard in the Alto Jahuel area in the Maipo Valley and is only made in exceptional vintages.
Baltazar discusses how the late entrepreneur Ricardo Claro of the Claro Group decided to buy the winery, which was founded in 1880, because he wanted to buy a company which was closer to the consumer. Baltazar was the person in charge of making the financial study to acquire the company, and has remained with the company ever since. He talks about how he learnt about wine by travelling with the Santa Rita winemakers to different countries, and how the wine industry in Napa Valley and France differed 40 years ago; the key differences he found were in the fermentation and ageing processes.
The decision to create a wine which could stand alongside the great wines of the world was made nearly 10 years after Ricardo Claro bought Santa Rita in 1980, with the first vintage of Casa Real in 1989. He talks about how he plans to produce a higher volume, but that it will take time, and how he is looking to develop another 120 hectares in order to select more volume for Casa Real. Sarah asks if the wine will remain 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; Baltazar replies by noting a recent tasting where they compared the wine to other great Chilean Bordeaux-blend wines: “I think everyone accepted that it is one of the unique expressions of our Casa Real – 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.” However, he doesn’t’ rule out that this may change in the future, while emphasising they’d like to stay as close to 100% as possible.
The inclusion of Casa Real 1989 in the Decanter Magazine series “Wine Legends,” the first Chilean wine to be included, was “the starting point in believing in ourselves.” Other accolades also came from The Wine Spectator and Tim Atkin MW, but the defining moment for recognition was the inclusion in the prestigious “Wine Legends” hall of fame.
Thirty years after the first vintage, the wine has been launched on La Place de Bordeaux. Baltazar explains why they decided, on the 30th anniversary of the wine’s launch, to join the Bordeaux system. He also acknowledges the role of the winemaker, pointing out there have only been three in the wine’s history. Sarah concludes by asking Baltazar to name his personal favourite vintages; 2018 he believes will be a star of the future, “1989 of course,” he says, and notes that at a recent tasting he was charmed by the 1998.
““The style has more to do with the terroir than the winemaker but honestly I would never think that it is just the terroir, one of the good things about having people behind the Casa Real is that it has soul.””
Running Order:-
-
0.00 – 7.31
“Chilean wine industry has a lot of influence from France, most of the winemakers went to university there”
– The history of how the late Ricardo Claro came to buy Santa Rita.
– Baltazar Sánchez travels with Santa Rita’s winemakers to Napa Valley and Europe to learn about wine. -
7.32 – 16.50
“I think everyone accepted that it is one of the unique expressions of our Casa Real is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.”
– The decision to create Casa Real, first vintage 1989.
– The terroir of Casa Real’s vineyards.
– Future plans for growing the volume of Casa Real. -
16.51 – 31.17
“We’ve only had three winemakers in charge of Casa Real.”
– Recognition from Decanter Magazine and top critics.
– Decision to join La Place de Bordeaux.
– The winemakers at Casa Real.
– Baltazar’s favourite vintages.
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