2022 Seleccion de Parcelas Los Padrinos Cabernet Sauvignon

The first vintage of Los Padrinos, Baettig’s Selección de Parcelas Cabernet Sauvignon, a “Premier Cru” equivalent, is only offering more since we first tasted it in February. From a single parcel of 120-year-old País vines grafted over to Cabernet Sauvignon in Cauquenes, aged for 15 months in 65% new French oak, it’s strikingly different to Los Compadres – a much darker, spicier and smokier expression. The two wines share their tension, with firm acidity that forms the backbone of the wine and drives the long finish, as well as gloriously crunchy and fresh fruit. The nose is savoury and brooding at first, but sweeter plum and cassis fruit lurks behind, while there’s a tart, bright bite to the palate. It still feels compact at this youthful stage, the power and gum-drying tannins needing time to unfurl.

This is the first release of Baettig's Selección de Parcelas Cabernet Sauvignon, Los Padrinos. What they consider their "Premier Cru", it comes from a single parcel of 120-year-old País vines grafted over to Cabernet Sauvignon in Cauquenes, aged for 15 months in 65% new French oak. The 2022 is full of promise, and it will be so exciting to see this wine develop. The nose is delicate but polished, with perfumed aromas of cassis, cedar, plum and black cherry. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with lifted herbal tones that add freshness and depth to the abundance of ripe, dark fruit. The backbone of vibrant acidity and firm but gravelly tannins provide a chiselled framework that complements the wine’s austere style. This will need a bit of time to come together, so best approached from 2027.