Deep ruby color; red and black fruits, dark cherry, blackberry, plum, mulberry, orange zest, coffee, cinnamon, oak on the nose and palate.
Dry; ripe, well behaved tannins with adequate balancing acidity. Full body. Fleshy, velvety, round in the mouth. Fruit-forward. Blend of 43% cabernet sauvignon, 39% carménère, 9% syrah, 5% cabernet franc, 4% petit verdot. 14% ABV
Escudo Rojo is Spanish for “red shield”—and reflects the Rothschild name. Rothschild is the German and Jewish name for a house marked with a red sign or a red shield. Middle High German ‘rot’ (red) plus ‘schilt’ (sign or shield). The logo on the bottle is a red shield.
The wine comes from the Valle Central, about 30 miles south of Santiago. Baron Philippe de Rothschild selected Valle Central for the wide patchwork of soils and terroir. The north is dry with stony subsoil, while the south is damper with water-holding clay soil. Baron Philippe de Rothschild winemakers assert this delivers New World power and Old World refinement. The Rothschild’s Maipo vineyard is 156 acres, but the winery also buys fruit on long-term contracts with partner winegrowers.
Baron Philippe de Rothschild Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva, Chile 2019 is polished, friendly red. Uncomplicated. Strikes balance between robustness and approachability. Straightforward red wine, works nicely as everyday sipper, upscale second bottle, can be enjoyed by those put off by bolder, more tannic, more complex and structured red wines. Pair with grilled or roasted beef, well-marbled ribeye steak, barbecue, slow-cooked brisket. Braised shoulder of lamb; slow-cooked lamb chops. Glazed duck breast; wild game—venison, boar. Pizza, burgers and sliders, comfort food—meatloaf, beef stew. Cheese—aged cheddar, aged gouda, parmigiano-reggiano, manchego, gruyère, brie, camembert, gorgonzola, roquefort. $20-25
Baron Philippe de Rothschild website
