Chief winemaker Ricardo Baettig has a line he likes about this wine: Itata Cabernet is more Médoc than Maipo. Where Chile's famous Maipo Cabs run meaty and big-tannined, Ránquil is elegant and red-fruited, shaped by quartz-rich granite soils into something that drinks more like an old-school Bordeaux than a typical Chilean Cab. "Innovation is in our DNA at every step of the winemaking process, starting with our curiosity to explore new regions and terroirs," Baettig says.

Pablo Morandé is one of the founding fathers of Chile's Casablanca Valley. He was among the first to recognize the region's immense potential—but for the Cabernet La Capilla, they tapped a historic, iconic parcel in the Ranquil area of the Secano Costero, in Chile's Itata Valley.

The Itata Valley has grown grapes since the 16th century. By the 1980s, the area was producing grapes with quantity in mind rather than quality. But of course, a few prized parcels remained, including the historic La Capilla Vineyard, which sits on an estate of over 80 hectares. But only 17 are planted to vines, and La Capilla, the only parcel of Cabernet on the property, is tiny—just 1.96 hectares. The vineyard is still planted on its own roots and still plowed by horse. The vines grow semi-independently at this point, supported minimally by guiding wires.

The 2020 vintage was the very first for Morandé's bottling, which immediately got the critics' attention. The warm, dry 2022—one of Chile's best recent vintages—gave the fruit real concentration while the vineyard's coastal granite kept it fresh and energetic.

Aged 16 months in French oak and another two years in bottle, this remarkable Cab is now deep garnet with a vibrant ruby edge. It's got a layered nose of blackcurrant, wild blackberry, and dark cherry, lifted by eucalyptus, crushed bay leaf, graphite, and dried violets. On the palate, it's focused and energetic, with dense dark fruit framed by firm yet finely woven tannins and a vein of fresh acidity.

You won't find another bottle of this wine, any vintage, in the US. We're extremely proud to bring it to you today, it's as close to a sure thing as you'll find in the Cabernet world.

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