Escudo Rojo Chardonnay Gran Reserva 2023

What happens when one of Bordeaux's most famous winemaking families turns its attention to Chilean Chardonnay?

Escudo Rojo is the Chilean project of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, the family behind Château Mouton Rothschild in Bordeaux. Established in 1999, the project brings French winemaking experience to Chile's diverse growing regions. The name Escudo Rojo translates to "Red Shield," a reference to the Rothschild family name and coat of arms.

Although the winery is based in the Maipo Valley, the grapes for this 2024 Gran Reserva Chardonnay come from Casablanca, a coastal region known for producing some of Chile's most compelling white wines.

Cool Pacific breezes and morning fog moderate the growing season, allowing Chardonnay to develop ripe fruit flavors while retaining the acidity that keeps the finished wine fresh.

The winemaking strikes a careful balance between richness and freshness. Half the wine spends six months in French oak barrels, introducing additional texture and subtle toasted notes, while the remainder preserves the grape's natural fruit character.

In the glass, aromas of ripe yellow peach, melon, and orange blossom mingle with toasted almond and a suggestion of marzipan. The palate is generous and rounded, with flavors of stone fruit, grapefruit, and warm oak spice. Refreshing acidity runs through the wine, preventing its richness from becoming heavy and carrying the flavors into a lingering finish.

This is a Chardonnay for someone who enjoys a little richness and oak influence but still wants freshness in the glass. Serve it with pan-seared sea bass in lemon butter, roast chicken with herbs, or shrimp in a creamy garlic sauce.