Costing under $15 then, with an excellent 12.3% alcohol, the wine at 29 years old, scored 16+ points on the Dionysian scale of 20.

The 1992 Los Vascos Cabernet Sauvignon from the Colchagua region in Chile held its color. It was still deep with garnet and ruby shades and an amber edge. After decanting, the silky soft wine showed black fruits buried in cigar smoke, graphite, and herbs. Many Dionysian Members have been there with me and know that this is a real food wine.

It was served with a winter beef stew that had some venison in it. The wine enriched the simple loaf of warmed French bread.


In 1988 the Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) bought 50% of the company and it has gotten better each year since then. In blind tastings the Los Vascos is usually thought to be French. It’s made to enjoy within five years, but can age and develop for two or three decades. In Vino Veritas.