The 2011 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Estate grown grapes in the Colchagua Valley of Chile’s Central Valley. Los Vascos translates to The Basques, which is a region in northern Spain and southern France. In 1750, the Echenique family, who had migrated from the Basque region, founded this vineyard. In 1988, Barons de Rothschild, of Bordeaux wine fame, purchased the Estate and expanded the property. The grapevines are from pre phylloxera Bordeaux rootstock. This Cabernet Sauvignon was fermented in stainless steel vats and no mention is made of oak cask aging. The alcohol content is 14%.
The color is a deep ruby red with a pink halo. The nose is dark berries, pepper, newly mown lawn and a little Thanksgiving herbs. This is a medium bodied wine with a mix of fruit flavors and herbs. It starts with raspberry, cassis, black pepper, thyme and oregano. The mid palate adds some sweet strawberry and soft hit of curry spice. The tannins are smooth and do don’t get in the way and the acidity is balanced. The finish lacks fruit, it is mostly pepper and herbs and lasts a long time.
The 2011 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon has plenty of personality. It is lean and complex, which you do not see with many 10 buck Cabernet Sauvignon and it has more than enough flavor to keep California Cab Sauv fans happy. This is a large production wine, 350,000 cases produced, but it does not have the rounded off edges the usual high volume wines have, it has a very French feel for a Chilean wine. To sum it up, The Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon is a Chilean by way of France Cabernet that adventurous California Cab drinkers will really enjoy.
