Vinedo Chadwick, Maipo Valley

Description

Vinedo Chadwick is quite simply an icon of Chilean wines, it is the flagship wine of Errazuriz. One of the very best Cabernet Sauvignons that Chile has to offer.

Vinedo Chadwick is named after Alfonso Chadwick Errázuriz. Born in 1914, Don Alfonso became one of Chile’s most famous businessmen specialising in the food and drink but the wine industry and polo were his two passions. Don Alfonso was considered to be a visionary in his time particularly in the modernization of the Chilean wine industry. In 1983, he took control of Viña Errázuriz at Panquehue in the Aconcagua Valley. This winery was founded in 1870 by his ancestor Don Maximiano Errázuriz and was the start of Viña Errázuriz as we know it today. Don Alfonso had five children. Today his son Eduardo is President of the Errázuriz Estate, continuing his great legacy; his passion for wine and persistence in pursuit of excellence. The first vintage of Viñedo Chadwick (1999) was released to great success in 2002. Its second vintage (2000) would later make history on 23 January 2004, when the famous Berlin Tasting took place.

Vinedo Chadwick is situated in Puente Alto at the foot of the Andes Mountains on the north bank of the Maipo River. The property consists of 15 hectares in the Alto Maipo region which is considered to be one of Maipo’s best terroirs, particularly for Bordeaux red grape varieties. The vineyard elevation and the cool morning breezes from the Andes and the moderate daytime temperatures allow the grapes to reach the perfect state of ripeness without losing any of its bright, fresh acidity. The broad variation between daytime and night-time temperatures is one of the factors that lead to intense colour in the wines from this area. The moderately fertile soils of alluvial origin with rocky subsoil have excellent drainage, which allows for an ideal balance between plant growth and fruit yield.

The grapes for Vinedo Chadwick are hand-picked in the mornings of the harvest into small 15kg boxes to avoid exposure to high temperatures. On arrival at the winery, grapes are hand sorted and then fermented in small, stainless steel tanks with a higher proportion of skins to must and three pump-overs depending on the degree of extraction required. The wine is racked in to new French barrels and is aged for 22 months. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in the barrels which helps integration with the oak. Vinedo Chadwick 2009 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

This wine is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.