Errazuriz Wine

About Errazuriz Wines

Errazuriz wines have rightly earned the reputation as the ‘Premier Family Wine estate of Chile’. Established in 1870, they are widely considered the single top quality producer of Chilean wine and are still run by the family with world renowned winemaker Eduardo Chadwick, flying the flag for the 6th generation.

Errazuriz is headquartered in Aconcagua Valley, 100km north of Santiago. Having imported vines from Europe, and worked through generations to transform what was a barren land into the producer of world class wines, their motto is firmly ‘from the best land, the best wine’. Across all their wineries, Errazuriz follow a process of total control of the vinegrowing and vinification process, to ensure optimum quality.

With this focus on quality over quantity, Errazuriz has a fantastic premium range and a very good value entry level "Estate" range too. The average price of Chilean wine is generally quite low, largely thanks to an excellent trade deal achieved by the country's wine body, and Chile is thus renowned as a top supplier of quality and consistent wines, particularly in the £10 and under bracket.

The History of Errazuriz Wines

The Errazuriz estate was founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano, who purchased vineyards in the sub region of Panquehue, in the Aconcagua Valley, which was then a fairly barren land. He was in part helped by the prestige his lineage afforded as a descendant of Francisco Errazuriz, a Basque immigrant, who established the Errazuriz family as one of the most important in Chile. From this wealthy background, Don Maximiano married the daughter of the richest man in the country, and set about building businesses with him, initially in copper and then gas, both of which were extremely successful. After a period in politics, and the death of his first wife, he began his venture in wine.

Whilst most Chilean vineyards at the time were being planted further north near Santiago, Don Maximiano recognised the potential of the land and swiftly imported the best clones of vines from France. The transformaton of Aconcagua had begun.

Through subsequent generations, the founder’s principles of belief in ‘terroir’, and that each different plot of land and climate contributes differently to the composition of the wine, have been upheld, with the family undertaking research, and ensuring that the best types of grapes for each vineyard and location are used. In 1993, they were among the first group of wineries to plant Syrah in Chile, which produces some of the finest wines on the market these days that are more than capable of rivalling Rhone Valley reds. Errazuriz are also strong supporters of sustainability and green, environmentally friendly policies and strategies for their winemaking and distribution process.

In 2004, a famous blind tasting in Berlin organised by Errazuriz and Steven Spurrier (the man behind the Judgment of Paris - where US wines beat the French), proved their quality in the modern day. Both their Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve and KAI Carmenere secured first place against prestigious wines from Italy and France and served to catapult Chilean wines onto the global stage, much as The Judgement of Paris did for American wines.

Continuing these achievements, in 2018 Eduardo Chadwick was named “Decanter Man of the Year” - the first Chilean ever to receive this award. They also received the first 98-point score from Robert Parker for a Chilean wine with the Las Pizarras Chardonnay marking yet another a milestone for the Chilean wine industry. The following year, James Suckling gave this wine 99 points.

Errazuriz now owns vineyard plots across the Aconcagua valley, encompassing almost 460ha of vines, from the mountains towards the coast, giving them plenty of climate variety to play with. They also have some vineyards in the premium cool-climate Casablanca Valley, famous for its top quality, fresh white wines, and also the warmer Maipo Valley, south of Santiago, where the ‘vinedo Chadwick’ estate produces some of the company’s flagship reds.

The Errazuriz winery is still based at the original cellars in Panquehue and combines the tradition of the old winery, with a state of the art modern winery, which was upgraded in 2010, and includes gravity flow and open top fermenters, in addition to over 15,000 new barrels – this gives the winemakers the flexibility to continue to focus on achieving the very best quality across the range.

What Wines Do Errazuriz Make?

Errazuriz produces a wide range of varietal wines, across a few main categories: The "Estate" range, The "Max Reserva" range, a single vineyard range, reserve wines (from the locations and grapes), and a range of flagship wines.

Estate Wines

This is the entry level selection of varietal reds and whites. They aim to honour the estate and reflect varietal character with freshness, fruit and balance.

The Whites

• Errazuriz Estate Series Sauvignon Blanc - Aromas of fine herbs, complemented by citrus notes and a subtle hint of guava. On the palate, tropical fruits take centre stage, beautifully framed by the herbal nuances characteristic of the variety. With vibrant acidity, this wine is fresh, crisp, and delightfully smooth.
• Errazuriz Estate Series Chardonnay - Floral notes intertwined with tropical fruits and a refreshing hint of citrus that enhances its complexity. On the palate, citrus flavours take centre stage, followed by nuances of ripe pear, dried fruits, and a subtle touch of marzipan.
• Errazuriz Estate Series Pinot Grigio - Opens with bright aromas of white flowers, citrus fruits such as lime and grapefruit, and hints of ripe pear and green apple. The palate is crisp and refreshing, offering a well-structured balance of gentle minerality, soft texture, and lively acidity.

The Reds

• Errazuriz Estate Series Merlot - Aromas of ripe red fruits, such as plums and cherries are complemented by balsamic notes, caramel, clove, and pastry. The palate is rich and complex, with flavours of vanilla, chocolate, and sweet spices.
• Errazuriz Estate Series Pinot Noir - Aromas of red and black fruits, accompanied by subtle spicy hints, as well as pleasant notes of caramel, pastry, and sweet spices. On the palate, it follows the same profile, with red cherries standing out along with some balsamic notes.
• Errazuriz Estate Series Cabernet Sauvignon - A symphony of red fruit aromas, chocolate, vanilla, and caramel, accented by delicate balsamic notes. On the palate, it unveils layers of cherry pie, ripe plum, clove, and creamy vanilla.
• Errazuriz Estate Series Syrah - Aromas of ripe red and black fruits such as blueberries and plums, along with a delicate floral hint of lavender. The palate reveals vibrant notes of cherries, blackberries, and blueberries, complemented by subtle hints of sweet spices and pastry.
• Errazuriz Estate Series Carmenere - Notes of red bell pepper on the nose, with subtle sweet tones reminiscent of figs and a hint of cloves, all framed by notes of roasted coffee beans. With a spicy palate and notes of black fruits, figs, graphite, and bell pepper, this Carmenere highlights the typicity of the variety with fine-grained tannins, offering a smooth and pleasant mouthfeel.

Previously, they made a Cabernet Sauvignon Rose and red Sangiovese but they have since streamlined the range.

Max Reserva Wines

A range of top quality wines, produced from the very best grapes, on the best plots of land from the Don Maximiano and the La Escultra estates – wines with depth, concentration and elegance.

• Errazuriz Max VIII - On the nose, plums, some raspberry, and cherry, framed with notes of tobacco, cedar, tarragon, and bay leaf. On the palate dominates fresh plums accompanied by cherry pie flavours and notes of graphite, black tea, and a soft touch of licorice.
• Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon - On the nose, fresh red fruit stands out, with notes of raspberry and plum, a subtle hint of red fruit pastries, and delicate floral nuances of lavender. A spicy background reveals rosemary, laurel, and cedar. On the palate, its fresh fruit character and complex spicy notes, evoking tobacco and liquorice, take centre stage.
• Errazuriz Max Reserva Syrah - The nose unfolds aromas of ripe red and black fruits and a soft touch of lavender, framed by attractive tones of nutmeg, cloves, and a lightly herbal touch. The palate is aligned with what is perceived on the nose, plus some sweet touches that recall cloves, nutmeg, and roasted coffee beans.
• Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenere - The nose displays aromas of roasted red pepper, black cherries, olives, some thyme and marzipan. The palate also displays black fruit like maqui and blackberry, together with Chinese ink notes and soy sauce. The entry on the palate has a refreshing acidity enhancing its juiciest side, complemented with fine tannins which provide excellent persistence.
• Errazuriz Max Reserva Pinot Noir - On the nose, it is fruity, reminiscent of raspberry, cherries and attractive notes of rose petal, plus a balsamic touch that adds complexity. On the palate, it is consistent with its nose, unfolding plenty of red fruit notes accompanied by sweet tones that remind of its time in French oak barrels.
• Errazuriz Max Reserva Chardonnay - On the nose, it shows aromas of papaya, loquat, pineapple and tangerine. The palate first shows its fresh fruit character, framed by notes of marzipan. The wine is fresh and juicy, offering a balance between breadth and verticality, plus great persistence.
• Errazuriz Max Reserva Merlot - Aromas of red fruits such as raspberries, cherries accompanied by notes of pastry with a touch of dill and clove. In the mouth it feels juicy, very polished tannins with an acidity that brings freshness and tension.
• Errazuriz Max Reserva Sauvignon Blanc - On the nose, first the more herbal side appears with tones reminiscent of tomato leaf, mint and green chilli, there are also citrus notes reminiscent of tangerine and lemon peel. On the palate, the citrus and herbal notes intertwine to create a refreshing, crisp and nervy whole. It is a blend that manages to balance verticality and breadth, it feels creamy and presents an excellent acidity that adds freshness

Flagships and Single Vineyards

Their flagship wines are seriously good stuff, with the Don Maximiano recognised in the world's top 10 after the Berlin tasting of 2004.

• Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve - Aromas of blueberries, fresh strawberry, and blackberries framed by soft notes of nutmeg, caramel and vanilla. The palate recalls ripe blueberries, bitter chocolate, black cherries and delicate hints of tobacco, rosemary and some liquorice. With a wide and deep entrance, its polished tannins provide finesse and excellent persistence
• Errazuriz Kai Carmenere - The nose offers blackberry and blueberry aromas along with intense spiced tones of pepper, paprika and incense, a hint of tapenade and a smooth touch of roasted coffee bean. On the palate, olives and blueberries emerge, accompanied by a light touch of nutmeg, white pepper and roasted red pepper. Good acidity lends linearity to this deep, long wine with polished tannins that caress the palate.
• Errazuriz Las Pizarras Chardonnay - Its clean and elegant nose features notes of white flowers such as orange blossom and lemon peel, with hints of vanilla and a background of Ulmo honey and propolis. On the palate, the refreshing citrus entry is complemented by vanilla and floral flavors. It offers a nice texture and vibrant mouthfeel with a refreshing minerality that, along with its tension, results in a highly juicy and persistent wine

These are the most famous, but their more recent single vineyard expressions are fantastic examples of terroir and highlight what makes their wines shines in a new way. They also have a Gran Reserva range which bridges the gap of their "Estate" range with a deeper appreciation for the great wines of Chile.