The experience brought together influential wine industry professionals to explore the expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, one of the world’s most renowned grape varieties, through a curated selection of exceptional vintages from two icons of Chile and France.

As part of an international dialogue on Cabernet Sauvignon, on June 25, the flagship wines Casa Real and Château Lascombes took centre stage at the prestigious private members’ club 67 Pall Mall in London, hosting two exclusive masterclasses and vertical tastings that explored the evolution of this noble variety across the Old and New Worlds. Through a selection of vintages, terroirs and stages of maturity, the sessions offered a profound perspective on the global expression of Cabernet Sauvignon today.

Led by renowned British wine critic Richard Bampfield MW, the experiences were presented by Sebastián Labbé, winemaker of the iconic Chilean wine from the Maipo Valley, and Alex Heinz, CEO of the historic Bordeaux estate Château Lascombes. Together, they guided guests through a comparative tasting that brought into dialogue two distinctive interpretations of Cabernet Sauvignon from the Old and New Worlds.

The first session, dedicated to sommeliers, specialised wine media and guests of both estates, featured the 2005, 2019, 2020 and 2022 vintages of Casa Real, showcasing the extraordinary ageing potential and consistency of this Chilean benchmark wine. Later, before members of 67 Pall Mall, a second vertical tasting presented the 2012, 2015, 2020 and 2022 vintages of Santa Rita’s iconic wine, offering a deeper insight into its stylistic evolution and the nuances revealed over time.

Both sessions explored the contrast between cooler and warmer vintages, leading to a thoughtful conversation on the impact of climate change on the development and expression of Cabernet Sauvignon across the world’s diverse wine regions.

Crafted in Alto Jahuel, Maipo Valley, Casa Real is Chile’s only iconic wine made exclusively from Cabernet Sauvignon since its first vintage and one of the pioneers among South America’s benchmark wines. Produced only in exceptional years, it has remained faithful to a singular conviction: to represent the purest expression of its variety and origin.

The event highlighted the remarkable ability of Cabernet Sauvignon to interpret different terroirs, showcasing how the interplay between climate, place and time shapes wines of distinctive identity, depth and extraordinary longevity.