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Los Vascos Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a Chilean red wine produced by the legendary Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) in the heart of the Colchagua Valley. It has returned to its iconic name after a brief spell as Los Vascos Cromas Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon of real elegance and depth; it carries Lafite’s Bordeaux heritage in every glass. Available to buy once more at Fareham Wine Cellar, this is a wine well worth welcoming back.
The grapes for the Los Vascos Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon come from selected plots at the foothills of Santa Lucia, where they benefit from optimal exposure and light intensity. The contrast between daytime and nighttime temperatures is particularly extreme in these vineyards, which means that the conditions are particularly favourable for the grapes to slowly mature.
In 1988, Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) acquired the Viña Los Vascos estate in Chile. The name is a nod to the property’s Basque heritage; Vascos translates as “Basques”. The estate consisted of some 2,200 hectares at the time of acquisition, with 220 hectares dedicated to viticulture. The estate underwent a significant transformation under the guidance of the Technical Director of Château Lafite Rothschild, who steered the project through to 1994, bringing with it the full weight of Lafite’s winemaking expertise.
The vineyard was restructured, a replanting programme was established, and yields were reduced. Drilling provided a plentiful source of water, and a weather monitoring station was installed in the vineyards. The bodega itself was enlarged and modernised step by step to cope with the new requirements in winemaking and ageing. The refurbishment included the installation of stainless steel tanks, pneumatic presses and improvement to the barrel cellar.
Los Vascos is now a single-plot, 580-ha vineyard in the heart of a 3,600 hectare hacienda. The knowledge of the terroirs accumulated over 20 years has been used to refine the qualitative approach in the vineyard and in the winemaking. The decision to adopt large-scale drip irrigation and to grow more grape varieties has also brought new possibilities to the expression, balance and complexity of all the wines in the range. The estate is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Carmenère (5%), Syrah (4%), Malbec (1%) and Chardonnay (5%).
The estate is currently managed by winemaker Philippe Rolet, who also looks after Lafite’s operations in Argentina at Bodegas CARO.
Bright ruby red with a deep garnet trim, the Los Vascos Grande Reserve opens with an intense nose of fresh strawberry, ripe cherries, blackberries and cassis, with subtle herbal notes and spicy hints of clove, cinnamon and white pepper. Gentle oak ageing adds complexity through cedar, tobacco, mint and bitter chocolate, underpinned by well-integrated wood and graphite. On the palate, the wine is full, structured and well-balanced, with firm yet elegant tannins delivering real presence and vitality. It finishes with good length and a savoury edge, making it approachable now but equally capable of short-term ageing.
Pairs beautifully with red meats, lamb, hearty stews, and aged cheeses – classic Cabernet territory.
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