Here is a simplistic history of varietal wine demand in Chile. And this is not the first time I have been called simplistic. In the 1960s, Robert Mondavi disagreed with his father and brother Peter on the direction of the family wine business. Robert wanted to create world-class varietal wine, and the rest of the family was happy to continue with their highly successful jug wine business. Tensions about the future of Mondavi wines peaked at a family get-together when Robert punched Peter in the mouth. This indiscretion led to Robert leaving the family and creating the Robert Mondavi winery, the historical start of fine varietal wine mania in California in 1966. At the time, there were only 30 wineries in Napa. Success snowballed for all Californian varietal wines to the point of demand exceeding supply. Americans had an increasing interest in food and wine, and because of cheap international airfare, led to more travel to European countries, where Americans were introduced to fine wine. That, combined with a burgeoning economy – especially in the late 1990s –pushed some California wine prices to astronomical heights. Napa and Sonoma land became very expensive to the point that the major wine houses needed to explore alternative wine-growing regions for their thirsty American consumers. 

As an alternative, Chile was a winemaker’s dream. Constant sunshine, little disease, cheap land, and plenty of labor. In the 80s and 90s, many well-financed winemakers explored the subtleties of the different wine-growing regions. An army of who’s who from the wine world started or partnered with some great wineries in Chile. Robert Mondavi, Beringer, Banfi, and Kendall Jackson, to name a few. Of course, International wine icon’s also started wineries in Chile. One of the best-known is French icon, Chateau Mouton Rothschild owners, the family of Baron Philippe de Rothschild.

In 1853 Baron Nathaniel de Rothschild, wishing to serve his own wine to his guests, bought Chateau Brane-Mouton, which became Chateau Mouton Rothschild. In 1922 the Baron’s great-grandson Baron Philippe de Rothschild, who had just turned 20, became the visionary genius of Mouton Rothschild. Philipe was the one who invented château bottling, created Mouton Cadet, the first Bordeaux wine brand, and renovated Château Mouton Rothschild. He initiated the famous labels illustrated by contemporary artists and created the Museum of Wine in Art. His name is forever associated with the prestige and reputation of fine Bordeaux wines worldwide.

Baroness Philippine took over from her father in 1988, resolved to continue his life’s work. While respecting his heritage, she determinedly brought Château Mouton Rothschild and the family company into the 21st century. Modernizing the facilities, expanding the product range, and making sales and marketing more effective. She successfully established operations in major wine-growing regions in Southern France, California, and Chile. She was responsible for partnering with Mondavi to create Opus One and with Concha y Toro to create the amazing wines from Almaviva. In 2003 inaugurated the BphR (Baron Philipe de Rothschild) bodega. A 150-acre vineyard 28 miles south of Santiago in the Maipo Valley. The home of Escudo Rojo wines.

2019 Vintage



Particularly hot and dry conditions in 2019 enabled the grapes to reach optimum maturity. Lower than average rainfall, concentrated almost entirely during the winter, combined with slightly higher-than-average temperatures, ensured perfect conditions for the vine growth cycle, enabling the grapes to reach optimum aromatic and phenolic maturity. These exceptional conditions generated natural concentration while preserving balance and refinement. Allowing the grapes to achieve the purest expression of the identity of each terroir. As a result, the wines express all the generosity and power of Chile while remaining elegant and silky.

Offering excellent aging potential, 2019 is one of the great Chilean vintages.

The nose opens on an elegant combination of red and black fruit aromas, followed by airing by elegant spice and roasted coffee-bean notes. The palate has ripe red and black fruit flavors emerge on the attack, followed on the midpalate by powerful black fruit mingled with delicate spice and roasted coffee-bean notes. The fruit flavors found on the attack return are underpinned by beautifully refined tannins which give length and elegance to the finish.

Blend: 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Carmenere, 11% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc

12 months oak aging- 100% of the wine in barrels - 25% new and 75% 1- and 2-year-old barrels

A complex nose of mulberries, plums, dark cherries, dried flowers, and spices. It's full-bodied with firm, chewy tannins, and a fleshy texture. Velvety and structured, leading to a flavorful finish with good length. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, syrah, cabernet franc and petit verdot. Drink or hold. James Suckling 93 pts

The 2019 Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva drinks famously well. This sports pleasing aromas and flavors of ripe blue and black fruits, as well as a note of pencil lead. Pair it with a grilled, well-marbled ribeye. Wine.com 92 pts

Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva 2019 

I tasted this wine with my good friend Tim G who is our Bordeaux guru. Actually, his purview is anything French, so I was interested in his take on a Chilean wine made in a Bordeaux style by the family that makes the leading first growth in Bordeaux. Pouring the wine into the glass, you first notice its deep inky color. The aromas from the glass are that of black cherries, currants, coffee, and some spice—Full-bodied in the mouth with good acids balanced by medium tannins, with a long dark cherry finish. We decided at under $20, this was a very good wine; at $15, it was a steal. Highly rated, from Chile’s Maipo Valley, produced by the family that owns Mouton Rothschild, makes this a lot of wine for the money.

Regular Price: $19.99

*Sale price is on 6 or more bottles

Wine is packed in a 12-bottle case