A Taste of Chile:Vina' Errazuriz- Aconcagua Valley.

Chile's wine regions.

Chile is one of the leading wine producing countries from the New World wine producers, which has, just like the other main players from the New World viz: Australia, California - USA; Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand, has seen a major emergence on the wine world scene since the historic Paris Tasting of 1976.
 Chile was producing wines from its major wine regions of: Atacama, Coquimbo, Aconcagua, Valle Central (Central Valley), and Southern Chile, for many years dating to the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors took the Vitis vinifera vines with them from Europe when they colonolized the region. It is now the 5th, wine exporting country in world.

The ERRAZURIZ Estate was founded in 1870, when Don Maximiano Errazuriz planted his first vineyards at Pomguehue in the Aconcagua Valley. This valley is ideal for growing premium wine grapes due to its climatic conditions of cool, rainy winters, hot dry summers and moist Pacific breezes, that is described by many as being halfway between the climates of California and France. Don Maximiano had from the very start used the finest clones from France to start and develop the estate over a number of generations into what it is today, as a leading world class vineyard and wine producing company.

Vina' Errazuriz produce several fine wines under different category-specified brands such as:
a. The Icon collection which consist of the finest wines, produced only in the best vintage years and consist of the: Chadwick; Don Maximiano; La Cumbre, Kai and Senna.
b. The Specialties collection which consist of nine wines;
c.  The Max Reserva which consist of seven varietals;
d. The Estate collection which is the entry level range and which consist of ten wine varietals.

Tasting and review session.

On the 31st of May and the 1st of June, 2011, I had the opportunity to taste and review some of these wines, during two wine tasting events, organised by the importer in Malta as these wines have just started to be imported in this country. I am herewith highlighting some of the reviews made and the ratings that I have awarded:

Don Maximiano Founder's Reseve 2005

1. Don Maximiano 2005:

The 2005 Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve is composed of a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Syrah. After fermentation, the wine is blended and is left to mature in new French Oak barriques for not less than 20 months.

Dark purple in colour, slightly opaque, with a nose of black fine chocolate, dark fruits - blackberries and blue berries and spices. In the  mouth this wine is full-bodied, elegant and full of fruit depicting a taste of toasted oak which gives it power and structure. Very well balanced with smooth tannins and pleasant acidity and finishing in a long enjoyable aftertaste of chocolate and blackberries in the mouth.
A very pleasant, premium wine, which compliments fine strong red meats, and mature cheese.
Ready to drink now, but could be aged for well over ten years in a good cellar.

Price range at enoteca or wine shop: EUR30.50
Alcohol content: 14.5% - Full-Bodied.
Serving temperature: 18 deg.C
RATING: RS93

Tasting samples.

2. KAI 2008:

This is another wine from Vina' Erazzuriz which comes under the Icon quality of this winemaker. It is another blended wine with a formulae of 86% Carmenere, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Syrah,  aged for a specific number of months in French oak barriques until it is decided by the winemaker that it has reached its optimum maturity in the bottle prior to further aging in the bottle.

Very dark ruby in colour verging on purple, slightly hazey due to it being most probably unfiltered. On the nose this wine has a strong aroma that I could only describe as "Surf and Turf" when I first smelled it causing my olfactory senses to open up for more. A very distinct aroma of fresh sea air combined with earthy notes and flowers and a combination of ripe black fruit. On the palate the Carmenere content is strengthened by the Petit Verdot and the Syrah combination to give strong but pleasant tannins and power. Full-body full of power, structure and compelxity with a long pleasant  finish.
Ready to drink, but could also evolve further  for some 5 more years to reach its most elegant peak.
A wine that can be enjoyed with food or on its own.

FOOD PAIRING: Roast red meats, grilled prime beef steaks- T Bone, Fillet, Rib-Eye, tenderloin. Roast lamb; Lamb and beef Osso Buco; game; strong cheese.

Price range: Eur40.
Alcohol content: 14.5% - Full-Bodied.
Serving Temperature: 16 - 18 Deg. C.
RATING: RS93

Other wines that were tasted during this tasting were:

3. SENNA 1998

This particular vintage of this wine, which is composed of approximately 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carmenere, 12% Merlot with the balanace composed of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, was tasted with the above wines on the 1st of June, 2011, and was considered to be bland and boring and could not be rated. When tasted in comparison with the Don Maximiano 2005 and the Kai 2008, the SENNA 1998 was rated well below both. In my opinion this 1998 vintage has either reached its peak some time ago and is now declining or otherwise we might have tasted a bad bottle which could have been affected by transportation from Chile to Malta. If  we're buying SENNA than I would advise purchasing more recent vintages. In fact I would welcome the opportunity to taste-test and analyse the 2006 and 2007 vintages.

4. ESTATE BRAND:

Two entry level wines which were the Estate Sauvignon Blanc and the the Estate Merlot were tasted. These two latter wines are entry level quality, but are very good as easy drinking wines, and to pair with pizza, pasta, light, home dinners, fish and red meats. Price range Eur9 for a bottle.

5. MAX RESERVA BRAND.

Two wines worthy of note from the Max Reserva branded wines, which were made available during the tasting session on the 31st of May, 2011, were the Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 and the Merlot, both oak aged for a period of twelve months, obtaining an alcohol content of 14%, smooth tannins and very good balance. These wines have been rated at RS88 for the Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 and RS86 for the Merlot, both rated in our Very Good wines category. They also offer good value for money at Eur15 per
bottle.