Chile is a true winegrowing paradise. The richness of its soil and the variety of climates there give rise to an extraordinary diversity of terroirs. Baron Philippe de Rothschild takes advantage of this patchwork of terroirs to create highly distinctive wines that are a byword for quality and excellence.
HISTORY OF BARON PHILIPPE DE ROTHSCHILD IN CHILE
In the late 1990s Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, true to the pioneering spirit of its founder, Baron Philippe, decided to start making wine in Chile. Boasting soils suitable for vine-growing and varied topography and climate, conditions in Chile are ideal for making high-quality and distinctive wines, Cabernet Sauvignon in particular. Escudo Rojo is the result of the marriage between Chilean terroirs and the know-how of Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Since its creation in 1999, it has stood as the worthy heir of Baron Philippe de Rothschild in Chile. This is exemplified in its name since Escudo Rojo is the Spanish translation of the German “Rote Schild”, which means red shield. By bearing the Rothschild name, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild showed that the Rothschild family had come to Chile to stay.
A MARRIAGE BETWEEN CHILEAN TERROIRS AND BORDEAUX WINEMAKING TRADITION
The Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, Chile’s central region enjoys exceptional climatic conditions. Escudo Rojo is born in the Maipo Valley, the historical heart of the Chilean vineyard. At Buin-Maipo, 45 kilometres south of Santiago, Viña Baron Philippe de Rothschild Chile stands proud in the middle of its own 60-hectare vineyard. It has been headed by Emmanuel Riffaud since 2015. An agricultural engineer and oenologist, he joined Baron Philippe de Rothschild in 1999 as a member of the Mouton Cadet technical team before moving to Chile in 2008. He took over as managing director of the company’s Chilean subsidiary in 2015.
“Baron Philippe de Rothschild Chile has been growing and innovating constantly since it was established in Chile at the end of the last century. Its roots in Chile are now confirmed by its ownership of more than 1,000 hectares of vines in the Maipo and Maule Valleys, cultivated in the purest Bordeaux tradition. The spirit of Baron Philippe de Rothschild is reflected in the ceaseless quest for perfection, using our Bordeaux know-how to express the quintessence of the Chilean terroir.”
EMMANUEL RIFFAUD – WINEMAKER BARON PHILIPPE DE ROTHSCHILD CHILE
THE MAIPO VALLEY - FLAGSHIP OF CHILEAN WINEGROWING AND BIRTHPLACE OF ESCUDO ROJO
The Maipo Valley is a winegrowing area bounded to the north by the Chacabuco range, to the south by the Angostura de Paine (a narrowing of the central plain), to the east by the Andes Mountains and to the west by the coastal range. 80 kilometres long and 35 kilometres wide, it spans nearly 12,200 hectares and is crossed by two rivers, the Maipo and the Mapocho. The soil is mostly silt over a subsoil of gravel, sand and some clay.
The Maipo river tempers the climate, forestalling frost in winter and extreme heat in spring. Winter is cold and rather dry while spring is dry, warm and very bright, with a day/ night temperature difference of 18 to 20°C that favours high-quality grapes. Two other features are low humidity and a lot of sunshine, both ideal conditions for growing vines and bringing grapes to perfect ripeness, an essential condition for making fine wines.
Vinegrowing in the Maipo Valley started in the first half of the 19th century with the introduction of varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Carmenere, imported from Bordeaux. Over time, Cabernet Sauvignon became the preferred variety because of the perfect match between the grape and the Maipo Valley terroir, producing high-quality wines.
The Maipo Valley is famous for Cabernet Sauvignon, just like the Medoc, where Baron Philippe de Rothschild has its winegrowing roots. Cabernet Sauvignon plays a leading role in Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva blend and reveals the quintessence of its Chilean expression in Escudo Rojo Origine.
ESCUDO ROJO GRAN RESERVA 2019 - A SIGNATURE BARON PHILIPPE DE ROTHSCHILD WINE WITH A FLAMBOYANT PERSONALITY
Escudo Rojo Gran Reserva holds out the promise of the refined and elegant expression of French and native grape varieties rooted in the Chilean terroirs: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are blended in exactly the right way, as though there could be no other. This high-quality wine is a perfect example of the art of blending, the real hallmark of Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The combination of different grape varieties gives the wine its distinctive character, setting it apart from many other Chilean wines traditionally made from a single grape variety.
The flamboyant red of the label reflects the wine’s warmth and assertive personality. The 2019 vintage immediately reveals powerful ripe red fruit aromas. The nose gains in complexity with airing. Spicy black pepper notes combine perfectly with the subtle vanilla, caramel and mocha aromas that come from time spent in oak. A powerful and complex attack leads into a rich and smooth mid-palate, given structure and heft by very mature tannins, creating a harmonious and balanced wine of great refinement. The powerful and stylish finish reveals all the character of the Chilean terroir, combining the elegance of Cabernet with the roundness and powerful flavours of Syrah and Carmenere.
