Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2020

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2020

 

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Errazuriz
Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2020
  • Vintage : 2020
  • Country : Chile
  • Region : Casablanca Valley
  • Subregion :
  • Type : White
  • Style : Creamy Full Bodied White
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 13,5°
  • Grappes : 100% Chardonnay

Wild Ferment Chardonnay by Errazuriz is a bold and elegant expression of the Casablanca Valley, offering vibrant citrus notes and tropical fruit aromas framed by a creamy, balanced texture.

Experts Score Vintage
JS James Suckling 93 2016
RP Robert Parker 91 2016
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

The Casablanca Valley, located just 32 km from the Pacific Ocean, is one of Chile’s most renowned cool-climate wine regions. Its proximity to the ocean brings morning fog and cool evening breezes, which, combined with warm summer days, create an ideal environment for the gradual ripening of Chardonnay grapes. This process preserves the grape’s natural acidity while developing rich flavors and aromas.

The La Escultura Vineyard, where the grapes for this wine are sourced, features fine clay and sandy-loam soils with low vigor potential. Planted in 1997 with Chardonnay clones 96 and 548, the vineyard provides diverse fruit expressions that contribute to the wine’s complexity. The vintage was particularly challenging, with the driest winter in 50 years and warm spring temperatures. Despite these conditions, careful vineyard management ensured a fresh and high-quality harvest.

Winemaking

This Chardonnay is crafted using 100% hand-harvested grapes that are transported in small boxes to preserve their integrity. The fruit is whole-cluster pressed and cold-decanted in stainless steel tanks. The use of native yeasts, containing a greater number of strains, enhances the wine’s complexity during the natural fermentation process.

The wine was then aged for 11 months in second- and third-use French oak barrels, imparting subtle oak flavors while maintaining a focus on the fruit's freshness. This meticulous approach to winemaking results in a Chardonnay that balances tension, creaminess, and persistence.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Straw yellow with greenish hues.
  • Aroma: Bright citrus fruits such as lemon and lime, complemented by melon, pineapple, and white peach, framed by subtle dried fruit notes.
  • Palate: A fresh and deep Chardonnay with a dominant citrus profile, soft tropical fruit undertones, and pastry nuances. It has a creamy texture with vibrant acidity, finishing with great persistence and an elegant mid-palate balance.

Did You Know?

The use of native yeasts in the fermentation of this wine adds complexity by incorporating multiple strains, showcasing the natural diversity of the Casablanca Valley’s environment.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Grilled chicken with creamy mushroom sauce: The wine’s acidity and creamy texture enhance the richness of the dish.
  • Seafood risotto: Its vibrant citrus notes complement the flavors of fresh shellfish and creamy rice.
  • Pork tenderloin with apple glaze: The tropical fruit and dried fruit nuances pair beautifully with the sweet and savory flavors.
  • Soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert: The creamy texture of the wine harmonizes with the richness of these cheeses.

Origins

The Errazuriz Estate was founded in 1870 when Don Maximiano Errazuriz planted his first vineyards at Panquehue in the Aconcagua Valley - 100km North of the capital. Recognising that this valley, with its cool, rainy winters, hot, dry summers and moist Pacific Ocean breezes, was ideal for growing grapes, Don Maximiano sent for the finest clones from France and with tenacity and perseverance transformed this barren land into a world class vineyard.

Today, the tradition of quality lives on with Don Maximiano's descendant Eduardo Chadwick. Eduardo is the fifth generation of his family to be involved in the wine business. Eduardo has overseen the modernisation of the winemaking technology at this historic Estate whilst maintaining a distinct identity for its wines. Dedicated to producing estate grown wines of superior quality, Errazuriz has built a reputation as the "Premier Family Wine Estate of Chile".

Errazuriz's philosophy is best expressed by Don Maximiano who said, "From the best land, the best wine." Vina Errazuriz believe in the concept of 'terroir' and strive to produce the finest wines by controlling every stage of the winemaking process, from grape growing in the Aconcagua and Casablanca valleys, to winemaking with the most natural techniques. An emphasis is placed on the delicate handling of the wines, with the aim of producing wines with elegance and complexity.

Personalities

Eduardo Chadwick
Eduardo Chadwick

Eduardo Chadwick - President:
Eduardo is Don Maximiano's descendent and the 6th generation of his family to be involved in winemaking. He explains, "Our challenge at Viña Errazuriz is to produce world class wines that capture the essence of the grapes and the spirit of the soil". He shares his ancestor's maxim: "From the best land, the best wine".

Francisco Baettig - Chief Winemaker:
Francisco Baettig studied as an Agronomist Engineer at the University of Chile and also obtained a Masters in Enology with honours from the Faculty of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux (Diplome d'Etudes Superieures Specialisees), through a scholarship awarded by the French government.

During his career he has been involved in vintages in the Languedoc-Roussillon as flying winemaker for Michel Laroche, Pomerol at Le Bon Pasteur, one of the renowned Michel Rolland's wineries; in Sancerre at Chateau de Sancerre reputed for its white wines and in the United States at Hallcrest Winery - one of the first organically certified wineries in California. He has also been on numerous technical visits to New Zealand, France and Italy. Before joining Errazuriz his time in Chile was spent at Casa Lapostolle where he worked for 4 years with Michel Rolland as assistant winemaker.

In 2003 Francisco Baettig became the head winemaker at Viña Errázuriz and took the role of Enology Manager 8 years later. Francisco belongs to a new generation of winemakers whose aim is to produce wines that best express the terroir of each vineyard. The winery has established Estates; Don Maximiano Estate, Manzanar Estate, La Escultura Estate and Viñedo Chadwick Estate (see vineyards section for more detail).

He has been in charge of producing the Errazuriz’s iconic wines such as Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve, KAI, and La Cumbre, and his talent and work were rewarded as Don Maximiano has been the only Chilean contender ranked ‘Best in Show’ and ‘Best Super Premium Red’ two years in a row at the Annual Wines of Chile Awards (AWOCA). 

In addition, Francisco was named ‘2011 Winemaker of the Year’ by the Círculo de Cronistas Gastronómicos y del Vino de Chile (Chilean Food and Wine Writer’s Guild).  

Francisco speaks English and French and has a love of aeroplanes - in 1998 he acquired his pilots' license for single-engine planes.

The Wines

Estate Series: Wines that express the characteristics of each varietal in its chosen geographical wine producing zone. The aim is to show maximum fruit, excellent balance and harmony between freshness and a certain degree of complexity.

Specialities: These are wines produced with specific viticultural or vinification points of difference.

Max Reserva: These are from a limited selection of the best grapes grown at the Don Maximiano, Manzanar and La Escultra Estates: concentrated, complex but elegant.

Flagships: The very best from Viña Errazuriz. In January 2004, at a blind tasting in Berlin, Viñedo Chadwick was placed first by an international jury, comprised of many of Europe's top wine writers, ahead of the most expensive and reputed wines of the Old World. This landmark tasting proved the quality and potential of this fine wine, and has been repeated with similar results as far afield as Japan, Canada and Brazil. In 2009 a similar tasting took place in London including some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons from around the world. Hosted by Steven Spurrier and Peter Richards MW, the great and the good of the UK wine trade were in attendance to share their opinions on the impressive line up. 

The Vineyards

Vina Errazuriz is committed to the concept of "terroir"- the idea that each vineyard imparts its own distinct characteristic to the grapes grown there. Achieving premium quality in a wine therefore begins in the vineyard, with finding the right combination of soil and climate, planting the most suitable clones and tailoring management techniques to the specific needs of the vineyard.

These estates are carefully managed by the Errazuriz viticultural team. The team is dedicated to environmentally friendly viticultural practice and are consistently innovating with micromanagement techniques, experimenting with clones and different irrigation systems. The viticultural team works hand in hand with the winemakers headed up by Francisco Baettig.


Don Maximiano Estate (Max) Vineyards - Aconcagua Valley: This 228ha Don Maximiano Estate consists of seven plots centred around Panquehue. It is here that Errazuriz produces its finest red wines, such as Don Maximiano Founders Reserve, Kai Carmenère, La Cumbre Syrah and the Max Reserva red wines. Here the sub-humid Mediterranean climate is moderated by gentle cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean, which penetrate deep into the valley. The valley's shallow, alluvial soils and high heat summation during the growing season are ideal for producing highly concentrated fruit.
 

Aconcagua Vineyard

Aconcagua Costa "Manzanar" Estate- Aconcagua Valley: This new estate is located in the Aconcagua coastal sector, just 12 km from the sea. 230 hectares have been planted to date with varieties best suited to the soil, slope and aspect of the property and in particular, the cool climate of this area. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir make up the majority of the plantings while cool climate Syrah has also been produced with excellent results.

Pioneering this vineyard in a totally new area is a bold step but one which the team at Errazuriz believes will open a new chapter in the production of wine in the Aconcagua Valley by establishing the region as a source of quality, cool climate varietals.

La Escultura Estate - Casablanca Valley: The Escultura Estate, of 75 ha, is located in the Casablanca Valley and is dedicated to the production of highly characteristic, cool climate white wines and, more recently, the Pinot Noir variety. The Casablanca Valley, located 25km from the South Pacific, is strongly influenced by morning fog during the summer and cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean. This allows for a long, even ripening of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines.

Viñedo Chadwick Estate - Maipo Valley: The Viñedo Chadwick vineyard is located in Puento Alto, on the south-east border of Santiago, along the Northern bank of the Maipo river at the foothills of the Andes Mountains. It is situated in one of the best areas of the Maipo Valley for growing exceptional quality.

The property stretches up to 25 hectares and was home to Don Alfonso Chadwick Errazuriz, father to Eduardo Chadwick - Vina Errazuriz's president. Besides running the family business Vina Errazuriz, Don Alfonso was a Chilean Polo Champion and he would practise his sport on the estate's Polo Field. In the spring of 1992 the polo field was planted with a selection of the best clones of Cabernet Sauvignon (12ha) and Merlot (2 ha).

The total 15 ha planted is on soils of clay loam over a stone filled riverbed of alluvial origin. The vines are spaced at 2 metres by 1.2 metres between vines, with 4,166 vines per ha. The vines are trained vertically and spur pruned. Overall the vineyard is managed using sustainable farming and micro management practices. The vineyard is divided into small blocks and each block is micro managed to ensure the best possible quality is obtained from each vine. This micro management includes a highly technical drip irrigation system that allows different irrigation patterns among the defined blocks in the vineyard.

Yields are maintained at a maximum of 5 to 7 ton/ha and at harvest time the various blocks are harvested separately and at different times. Even sections of one individual row can be harvested two or three times. Only the best grapes are selected and all are hand harvested.

The grapes from this single vineyard go to make Viñedo Chadwick, a flagship wine for Errazuriz, named in memory of the late Don Alfonso Chadwick Errazuriz.

In The Winery

The Errazuriz Winery was established in 1870 when the founder Don Maximiano Errazuriz first brought vines to the area. The original building still stands and now serves as a cellar door and dining space with the spectacular underground cellars being used for museum wine storage and hospitality.

A new temperature controlled barrel hall with a capacity of 15,000 barrels was added in 2007. Diurnal heating/cooling saves energy and areas can be separated off to provide warmer conditions for fermentation.

Two brand new winery buildings were completed in 2010; one for Max Reserva wines and one for the Errazuriz flagships. In the Max Reserva winery, a huge selection of different tank sizes, gravity flow and open top fermenters are now available to the winemaking team to give them more flexibility in their continuing quest for the best quality. The Don Maximiano Icon Winery is an architecturally stunning masterpiece with oak fermenters and environmentally friendly 'ground source' heating/cooling. Sitting alongside the original 1870 building, these new developments show the importance of respecting the company's heritage whilst having a clear vision for the future.

James Suckling (JS) : 93 Points (2016)
This is another gorgeous white with sliced apple, lemon rind, and just a hint of cream. Grapefruit. Full body, layered and beautiful. Energetic and vivid.

Robert Parker (RP) : 91 Points (2016)
The 2016 Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay was produced by fermenting the juice of the full clusters in barrel with indigenous yeasts. Only half of the volume underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine matured in 100% used French oak barrels in contact with the lees for ten months. The vines are only 12 kilometers away from the sea, and that provides for a marine, saline sensation in all these coastal wines. There are some orange peel aromas, hints of wet chalk and a hint of smoke. As with the Sauvignon, the palate shows better than the nose at this early stage, dry and with good tension, a fine texture and a long finish. Rating: 91+

Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder
Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve 2018
Errazuriz
Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve 2018
RP
94
VN
92
TA
97
The flagship wine from the Don Maximiano Estate it is complex with beautifully ripe fruit, smooth tannins, great concentration and a long finish.
115,00 €
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Errazuriz La Cumbre 2018
Errazuriz La Cumbre 2018
Errazuriz
La Cumbre 2018
RP
93
A rich and full-bodied Syrah that is full of succulent, ripe black fruit characters, smoky spice, soft tannins and a long smooth finish.
98,00 €
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Errazuriz Chadwick 2016
Errazuriz Chadwick 2016
Errazuriz
Chadwick 2016
RP
96
VN
94
JS
99
The ultimate Chilean icon wine, this fine blend is full-bodied with rich fruit, spicy oak, cocoa and coffee with ripe tannins, silky elegance and a lingering finish.
430,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2019
Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2019
Errazuriz
Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2019
23,50 €
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Errazuriz Kai 2020
Errazuriz Kai 2020
Errazuriz
Kai 2020
RP
94
JS
95
With a bold profile and refined tannins, the Kai from Errázuriz represents the best of the Aconcagua Valley, marrying dark fruit with earthy, savory notes in a harmonious, age-worthy wine.
102,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenère 2022
Errazuriz Max Reserva Carmenère 2022
Errazuriz
Max Reserva Carmenère 2022
JS
91
RP
90
WE
91
A vibrant and expressive Carmenère that embodies the unique terroir of the Aconcagua Valley, delivering rich dark fruit, soft spice, and silky tannins.
21,50 €
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Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022
Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022
Errazuriz
Aconcagua Costa Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022
RP
92
Sourced from vineyards just 12 km from the Pacific Ocean, it reflects the influence of ocean breezes and slate-rich soils, resulting in freshness, structure, and complexity.
24,90 €
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Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Errazuriz
Aconcagua Costa Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
RP
94
JS
92
Trophy "Best Chardonnay" - 10th Annual Wines of Chile Awards 2013 - A stunningly complex Chardonnay; toasty oak richness balanced with a steely, mineral backbone and crisp acidity.
23,90 €
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Wine regions guide
24,50 €
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