On the Road with the Grape Guy
The Errazuriz Tasting
27 Feb 2025- Details
- Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(October 2024) … A history that dates back to the 1870s, the Errazuriz winery was established through cuttings acquired from Bordeaux. But then the Chilean wine industry ceased its advancement in the 1970s, due to a number of reasons, more politically-based than others. After this upheaval, the renaissance and rebirth of Errazuriz can be charted back to 1983, with Edouardo Chadwick returning to the scene of the originating crime (taking cuttings) Bordeaux to study in 1985. In 1987, the LCBO introduces these wines to the population of Ontario.
Today, we have the opportunity, alongside Edouardo Chadwick, to taste many current and past vintage wines to chart the coming of age of Errazuriz.
We start with some of the iconic wines honouring the founder, Don Maximiano, as well as two vintages of a wine called Kai.
Errazuriz 1987 Don Maximiano - Founder's Reserve 
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
A warm vintage … The nose remains minty and inviting, the wine shows an element of age, but still with nice acidity and freshness; there’s also some leatheriness here and even the tannins seem to be holding on. DRINK
Errazuriz 2011 Don Maximiano - Founder's Reserve
(Cabernet Sauvignon 75% / Carmenere – Petit Verdot 10% / Malbec 5%)
A cooler vintage … This is a wine at its peak of performance, the acidity sings across the tongue, the fruit is still vibrant and dark, the length is medium, and it is drinking very well right now. DRINK – but you can still hold a few more years
Errazuriz 2021 Don Maximiano - Founder's Reserve
(Cabernet Sauvignon 63% / Malbec 22% / Carmenere 8% / Petit Verdot 7%)
Best vintage of last decade … Big, bold, and smoky with powerful yet aggressive tannins and really ripe fruit, dark and dense, but well balanced. This one needs a minimum of 5-7 years. HOLD
Errazuriz 2011 Kai
(Carmenere 95% / Petit Verdot 5%)
Very mint oriented with notes of cherry, tobacco and spice - still vibrant. DRINK
Errazuriz 2021 Kai
(Carmenere 85% / Syrah 11% / Malbec 4%)
This wine seems a little lost, but I do believe it should find its way; there's a tomato note and some wild weeds - it needs to soften and become more cohesive. Needs to be re-tasted before I can fully evaluate. Though later in the day tastings did show signs of fruit emerging. SHRUG
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Errazuriz hits the world stage when two, now icons, join forces. In 1991, Robert Mondavi visits Chile for the first time and sees the potential for making fine wine. He is looking to follow the successful pairing he had making Opus One with the Rothschilds in 1978. He said it was instrumental in creating awareness for Napa Wines – and now he wanted to return the favour to another up-and-coming country he believed in. He paired with Errazuriz, Edouardo Chadwick, to create SENA, Chile’s first icon wine, in 1995. The name means “signal” and was meant to signal to the world that Chile had arrived, and people should stand up and take notice.
Three vintages of this icon are poured.
Sena 1998
(Cabernet Sauvignon 90% / Carmenere 5% / Merlot 5%) 
Most difficult vintage in Chile … Signs of an aging Bordeaux-style wine. Acidity is still good, but the fruit is dried and smoky with tobacco dominating the flavour profile. DRINK, not getting any better
Sena 2011
(Cabernet Sauvignon 58% / Carmenere 15% / Merlot 15% / Petit Verdot 7% / Cabernet Franc 5%)
Minty and meaty aromas, subtle red fruits, but still a vibrant and pleasing wine on the palate. Texturally nice with enough flavour to make it interesting for the evening - quite lovely. Another five years shouldn’t hurt. DRINK or HOLD
Sena 2021
(Cabernet Sauvignon 50% / Malbec 27% / Carmenere 17% / Petit Verdot 6%)
Subtle mint notes on both the nose and palate. Tannins are fine yet grippy and the dark fruit is ripe and warming. This wine needs to develop further; 5 years should be nice before starting its drinking window. HOLD
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The last of these iconic wine was created in 1999, as a tribute to Edouardo’s father: Don Alfonso Chadwick, once captain of the Chilean polo team. He planted the old polo field on the property when he retired in 1992, to mainly Cabernet. The vineyard sits at 650m above sea level and is made up of gravelly/stony soils. Sadly, Don Alfonso never saw the fruit of his labours, passing away in 1993. Edouardo decided it was only fitting to make a wine honouring the man and the vineyard he planted on his beloved polo field.
Errazuriz 2000 Vinedo Chadwick
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
A cool vintage … Second vintage of this wine: earthy, smoky, mocha, tobacco; there's age here, but it's still on the level of a very good wine - coffee bean takes over the finish. DRINK
Errazuriz 2014 Vinedo Chadwick
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
There's a pretty floral elegance here - the fruit comes out and so does the smoke: there’s mocha, black cherry, cassis and even a hint of blueberry skin. No rush, but it drinks very well now. DRINK or HOLD
Errazuriz 2021 Vinedo Chadwick
(Cabernet Sauvignon 97% / Petit Verdot 3%)
Vibrant and fruit-driven, nice tannin kick, acidity is on point, a wine that needs 5 years and will be stunning. HOLD
