Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesI was quite impressed by the nose of the 2018 Gran Araucano, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Colchagua, with a marked varietal and place character and quite restrained and balanced in this vintage. It has more balsamic flavors and plenty of tannins. It has stuffing to develop nicely in bottle.
Jacques y Francois Lurton S.A. was created in 1988 by two brothers, sons of Andre Lurton, the famous winemaker of Bordeaux (Chateaux Bonnet, La Louviere, Dauzac...).
Beginning with the concept that it is possible to create world-class wines, within regions of great quality potential, they began several projects Andmdash; first in France, then in Argentina and Spain. In 1997, after years of investigation, they founded the JFL Chile partnership, Hacienda Araucano, within the Lolol area of the Colchagua Valley, a zone that offers great potential for the production of red wine. Situated on a foothill, the soils have excellent drainage and at the same time have the capacity to retain the proper amount of moisture. These qualities in turn give the vines deep roots and the ability for natural water feeding, therefore avoiding the necessity of irrigation.
The wines produced are vinified from grapes produced on the estate and as well as grapes bought from viticulturists, who sign specific contracts for high quality production under strict vineyard management from the Lurton viticultural team. All of the red wines (with the exception of Araucano Pinot Noir) are produced from grapes from the Colchagua Valley, while some of the white wine is sourced from grapes from the Casablanca Valley, known for having a great microclimate for the production of white wine grapes.
In 2008, the Araucano has moved to organic methods for both the estate as well as those growers whom they supervise. In 2012, all the wines under Hacienda Araucano will be certified 'made with organically grown grapes". Additionally, many biodynamic principals are being applied by the estate which further enhance the natural environment and wine quality.
Well-regarded for intense and exceptionally high quality red wines, the Colchagua Valley is situated in the southern part of Chile’s Rapel Valley, with many of the best vineyards lying in the foothills of the Coastal Range.
Heavy French investment and cutting-edge technology in both the vineyard and the winery has been a boon to the local viticultural industry, which already laid claim to ancient vines and a textbook Mediterranean climate.
The warm, dry growing season in the Colchagua Valley favors robust reds made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah—in fact, some of Chile’s very best are made here. A small amount of good white wine is produced from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.