When you come across the Errázuriz estate, located right in the heart of the Aconcagua valley, in Chile, you can’t help but dream. Seeing the estate’s vineyards, nestled in a magnificent amphitheatre of mountains facing North (and therefore the sun, in the Southern hemisphere), it’s easy to understand how its founder, Don Maximiano Errázuriz, could already have big dreams – and how this inspiration lives on in the estate’s current owner, Eduardo Chadwick, a major pioneer in the company’s modern identity.

Whether it’s the stunning landscape, the volcanic and alluvial grounds, the climate, or the know-how – or all of the above! – the wines from this estate have become a reference. In Québec, vintages like the Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon and the Fumé Blanc are long-time favourites in their category, given their reliability and unwavering quality. For nearly 40 years, Chile has built a solid reputation for its Cabernets Sauvignons, and Errázuriz has been a key player in this recognition.

Five generations of innovation

On site, the presence of two very different wineries, side-by-side, is a clear indication of this extended wine family’s journey and desire to continually keep growing. On the one hand, the historical 1870 winery, established with the help of a Bordeaux expert, was at the time a reflection of the most recent techniques and an already modern way of thinking. It also showed the desire to see the big picture and try specific paths: whereas the first domains to plant French grape varieties at the time were beginning to emerge in the nearby Chilean capital of Santiago, Don Maximiano had a distinctive terroir in mind, which seemed more favourable to him. “Better soils, better wines,” he would announce enthusiastically.

Just a stone’s throw away from this venerable building is the Don Maximiano estate. Opening in 2010, this elegant ensemble of concrete, metal, and glass gets its energy from the sun and soil (by solar panels and geothermal energy). In a spiralling setting with the most modern technologies in place, Francisco Baettig, the estate’s head œnologist, works with precision, guided in his harvest and vinification choices by a very specific vision of elegance and finesse. His attentive work earned him recognition as œnologist of the year by renowned British critic Tim Atkin, in 2018. The new flagship is a reflection of the estate’s ambition... and success!

From Santiago to Berlin

In some way, this is the monument Eduardo Chadwick, fifth generation of the family to lead the business, wants to leave to the future generations. He was the one who placed the estate’s wines on the international map since joining the family business in 1983. After learning the ropes from his father, he went to Bordeaux to study œnology, returning with many innovations just as Chile was actively starting to carve its place on the international scene. He quickly got to work on expanding the vineyards to include quality clones (such as Syrah and Carmenère). In 1995, he established an alliance with the legendary Robert Mondavi, which eventually led to the Seña, a high-end vintage he wanted to turn into a worldwide benchmark for quality.

For both his country and his domain, Chadwick quickly made it a mission to prove that top quality was within reach of Chilean winemakers. Seeing the doors that the 1976 Judgment of Paris had opened for California wines, the President of Errázuriz would create his own version, the Judgment of Berlin, in 2004. Recruiting Steven Spurrier, who himself had planned the Judgment of Paris, Chadwick invited some 36 renowned judges to do a blind test of his best vintages – Seña, Viñedo Chadwick, and Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve – alongside the best Bordeaux and most renowned super Tuscans. It was a bold move, and Chile triumphed: in the general score, the judges had ranked the Viñedo Chadwick 2000 and Seña 2001 in first and second place, ahead of Lafite-Rothschild 2000 and the Châteaux Margaux and Latour 2001 – and way ahead of Solaia and other Sassicaias. The head winemaker took such pride in this that he would eventually write a book about it for the generations to come.

A little more to the west

While its reputation was being built around the Bordeaux and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties in particular, Errázuriz also stood out by investing in the cooler territories of Aconcagua Costa, just a dozen or so kilometres away from the cold waters of the Southern Pacific. Before the development of these sectors, which were long considered to be too cold for viticulture, Errázuriz found there a favourable place to expand the stylistic repertoire of Chilean wines. Thanks to more moderate temperatures, the territory with rocky and clayey soils is very favourable to the finesse of the Pinot Noir and the freshness of Chardonnay in particular, as well as vibrant Sauvignons Blancs and sharp Syrahs. It’s just one more way for the Chadwick family to show that Chile still shines... and satisfies!

À découvrir

In collaboration with Vins Dandurand