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Review: Los Vascos 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile

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 Impressive Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon 
Ready to drink now - repeat as needed 

My first exposure to Los Vascos wines was two years ago when I enjoyed their 2009 Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. This month I have had the pleasure of enjoying their 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced at the Viña Los Vascos Estate in Chile. Los Vascos wines are distributed widely around the world. I will be reviewing more of their wines soon.


 Tasting Notes
The Los Vascos 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon was enjoyable at opening; smooth, lighter body than expected, lovely cherry, fluid. It was served slightly chilled and was perfect with steak dinner. A tasty wine, polished with no rough edges.

Notes After 1 Hour

Color: Candy red.
Nose: Cherry, currant, dry sage, pepper mill, cherry pie, market spice tea, a little outlying hay.
Palate: Medium body, fluid, smooth, cherry candy, black berry, gentle tannin, proper acidity with cherry, vanilla on the medium finish.

Notes After 3 Hours

Smoky bacon fat added to the nose, palate was juicy dry. A very polished wine from Los Vascos, sure to please many. Big like. I enjoyed this wine. Well done.

Thoughts: The steak was prepared with mushrooms, garlic butter and served with a red wine reduction sauce. Mixed greens on the side. The Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon was beautifully matched. Ready to drink now and over the  next few years. Highly Recommended.


Country: Chile
Region: Colchagua valley
ABV:14%
Closure: Nomacorc
Price: About $10
Sample provided by Pasternak Wine Imports

Viña Los Vascos
Camino Pumanque KM 5
Peralillo
VI Region
CHILE
Tel : +56 72 350900
Fax : +56 72 350967
losvascos@losvascos.cl

DOMAINES BARONS DE ROTHSCHILD-LAFITE took over the Los Vascos estate (Los Vascos meaning The Basques, in honour of its Basque origins) in 1988. Los Vascos is one of Chiles oldest wine estates. Yes, on the label is the Rothschild logo, the five arrows symbolizing the five sons of original patriarch Mayer Rothschild.

The largest vineyard in the central Colchagua valley, at the foot of Mount Cañeten. The 640 hectares under vine are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) Carménère (5%), Syrah (4%), Malbec (1%) and Chardonnay (5%). Given that there was major replanting at the beginning of the 1990s, the vineyard is divided between a group of 15-year old plots and another group of 40 to 50-year old plots. The oldest grapevines are 70 years old. 

Cheers!
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