Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve 2021.

Chile is a viticulturalist’s paradise and is now widely regarded as one of the best places in the world making fine wines that easily compete with the world’s best. Like all great wines, not only is ‘Don Maximiano Founders Reserve’ an utterly delicious wine to drink, it is one with a fascinating story to tell. The flagship wine of Viña Errazuriz, was named in honour of Don Maximiano Errázuriz who founded the estate in 1870, during Chile’s political upheaval in the mid-20th century he managed to hold onto this prized site and it was taken over by Alfonso Chadwick in the 1970’s who triumphantly produced its first vintage in 1983 – (100% Cabernet Sauvignon made in the old style open top rauli vats) – Don Maximiano’s heritage is as captivating as the wine, its one that speaks of its special home in Panquehue in the mighty Aconcagua valley.

Pioneers of this valley, the family’s mission has always been to craft the most elegant expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the oldest French vines planted in the region. Here, in a natural amphitheatre, the winery is surrounded by its vineyards, under the protection of a nearby mountain range and the Aconcagua River which curves around the vineyards.

Eduardo Chadwick is now the sixth generation of his family to oversee the estate and its seamless modernisation. In 2010 they opened a new state-of-the-art winery and in 2020 they celebrated their 150-year anniversary, a testament to the family’s vision and future success.

Location and terroir: Starting 60 km inland, just between the coastal range and the Andes, Don Max estate is divided into a series of precise vineyard blocks, with just three contributing to Don Maximiano Founders Reserve. These are the oldest and most important blocks: MAX I, MAX II, and MAX V.

All the vineyards are influenced by the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean. These idyllic locations give cool, rainy winters, hot, dry summers, and moist Pacific Ocean breezes. Max V also enjoy being close to one of the only yearly flowing rivers in this part of Chile.

The varieties blended in Don Maximiano Founders Reserve are Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carménère, and Petit Verdot.

Each vineyard experiences its natural influences differently. It’s these distinct microclimates that are instrumental, helping craft a wine of unique character:

• Max I – 16 ha - (Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Petit Verdot, Malbec) The vineyards surround the estate in a natural amphitheatre. Colluvium soils - sediment that has been deposited at the base of the mountains. Sandy loam, with jagged granite rocks, large and small gravel – this builds up without the help of running water (Alluvial, softer more rounded stones). The vines roots do not go around these large rocks, so they grow shorter roots, this stresses the vines and gives more structure and electric tannins to the fruit. They have shallower rooted vines on the hillside vineyards.
• Max II - 26.4 ha – (Cabernet Sauvignon | Petit Verdot | Carménère) Very layered clay loam soils. Vine roots go very deep and find a lot more nutrients and water. The vigour of the vines is restricted as the deeper they go the more gravel, and coarse rocks they encounter. This gives grapes with juicy flavour and sweeter tannins and great texture.
• Max V – 47.1 ha – (Cabernet Sauvignon | Carménère) Valley floor, alluvial terrace on the southern bank of the Aconcagua River, has amazing drainage. Deep gravelly alluvial soils. 80% stone component. Deeper down big round rocks. Clay, silt, sand, and fine gravel. Vines have a more developed root system. Gives soft tannins, great aromatics, kaleidoscopic fruit flavours with great minerality.

State of the Art Winery: The winery is situated in the heart of the Aconcagua valley in Panquehue, built with efficiency and environmental responsibility in mind, it allows movement by gravity through the various stages of winemaking.

Sustainable practices: Viña Errázuriz has championed sustainable practices, innovative techniques, and a deep respect for terroir in the pursuit of making the best wines from its vineyards. They are committed to working with nature and the natural cycle knowing this will produce wines that are true to their soils and location.

Growing season for the 2021 Vintage: This exquisite wine showcases beautifully the mineral-rich, ancient riverbed terroir and unique cool climate of its home, in the Aconcagua valley. It possesses incredible finesse and structural poise. Vibrant, silky dark currant fruits deliver ripe, aromatically layered concentrated flavours, making it extremely tempting. Hints of graphite, cedar and savoury spice meld with sweet plush black and red fruits, giving a nuanced gourmand palate that echos its European roots. Don Max is a polished offering, the epitome of affordable luxury; a quintessentially modern, yet sophisticated Chilean Cabernet. Georgie Crawley - UK Director Chadwick Family Estates

“The fruit is exquisite. Intense and complex with a juicy concentration and freshness. The gravelly soils weaving layers of stoney minerality through the crystalline fruit. Hints of floral notes showcase the effect of the cooler vintage, the costal breezes preserving the most delicate aromas and acidity. It’s a wine of captivating beauty, approachability, and harmony. The tannin structure and texture provide a silky, velvety finesse and excellent persistence. Its greatness shines in its ability to captive us in its youth, whilst having all the ingredients to improve with age. The 2021 is a great legacy to this iconic estate. In short – it’s a beauty!” – Tomas Munoz – Chief winemaker

The Growing Season: Cool season with long, slow ripening enabled us to make fresh and elegant wines with intense colour, juicy vibrant flavours and silky ripe tannins.

2021 offered outstanding weather conditions, enabling the exceptional terroir to express itself fully. The start of the season was perfect; winter rainfall had replenished the soils enabling the root system to reach deep into the stony, mineral rich soils. A warm Spring gave way to a cooler February and March which ended with some warm sunshine in the last week delivering perfect ripeness to the grapes. The long hang time enabling the skins to ripen to perfection giving silky smooth tannins. Each block was hand harvested at its precise moment of ripeness, the grapes were full, juicy with concentrated flavours, vibrant colour, acidity - all in perfect harmony.