27
Feb
2025
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(October 2024) … A history that dates back to the 1870s, the Errazuriz winery was established through cuttings acquired from Bordeaux. But then the Chilean wine industry ceased its advancement in the 1970s, due to a number of reasons, more politically-based than others. After this upheaval, the renaissance and rebirth of Errazuriz can be charted back to 1983, with Edouardo Chadwick returning to the scene of the originating crime (taking cuttings) Bordeaux to study in 1985. In 1987, the LCBO introduces these wines to the population of Ontario.
Today, we have the opportunity, alongside Edouardo Chadwick, to taste many current and past vintage wines to chart the coming of age of Errazuriz.
We start with some of the iconic wines honouring the founder, Don Maximiano, as well as two vintages of a wine called Kai.
Errazuriz 1987 Don Maximiano - Founder's Reserve
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
A warm vintage … The nose remains minty and inviting, the wine shows an element of age, but still with nice acidity and freshness; there’s also some leatheriness here and even the tannins seem to be holding on. DRINK
Errazuriz 2011 Don Maximiano - Founder's Reserve
(Cabernet Sauvignon 75% / Carmenere – Petit Verdot 10% / Malbec 5%)
A cooler vintage … This is a wine at its peak of performance, the acidity sings across the tongue, the fruit is still vibrant and dark, the length is medium, and it is drinking very well right now. DRINK – but you can still hold a few more years
Errazuriz 2021 Don Maximiano - Founder's Reserve
(Cabernet Sauvignon 63% / Malbec 22% / Carmenere 8% / Petit Verdot 7%)
Best vintage of last decade … Big, bold, and smoky with powerful yet aggressive tannins and really ripe fruit, dark and dense, but well balanced. This one needs a minimum of 5-7 years. HOLD
Errazuriz 2011 Kai
(Carmenere 95% / Petit Verdot 5%)
Very mint oriented with notes of cherry, tobacco and spice - still vibrant. DRINK
Errazuriz 2021 Kai
(Carmenere 85% / Syrah 11% / Malbec 4%)
This wine seems a little lost, but I do believe it should find its way; there's a tomato note and some wild weeds - it needs to soften and become more cohesive. Needs to be re-tasted before I can fully evaluate. Though later in the day tastings did show signs of fruit emerging. SHRUG
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Errazuriz hits the world stage when two, now icons, join forces. In 1991, Robert Mondavi visits Chile for the first time and sees the potential for making fine wine. He is looking to follow the successful pairing he had making Opus One with the Rothschilds in 1978. He said it was instrumental in creating awareness for Napa Wines – and now he wanted to return the favour to another up-and-coming country he believed in. He paired with Errazuriz, Edouardo Chadwick, to create SENA, Chile’s first icon wine, in 1995. The name means “signal” and was meant to signal to the world that Chile had arrived, and people should stand up and take notice.
Three vintages of this icon are poured.
Sena 1998
(Cabernet Sauvignon 90% / Carmenere 5% / Merlot 5%)
Most difficult vintage in Chile … Signs of an aging Bordeaux-style wine. Acidity is still good, but the fruit is dried and smoky with tobacco dominating the flavour profile. DRINK, not getting any better
Sena 2011
(Cabernet Sauvignon 58% / Carmenere 15% / Merlot 15% / Petit Verdot 7% / Cabernet Franc 5%)
Minty and meaty aromas, subtle red fruits, but still a vibrant and pleasing wine on the palate. Texturally nice with enough flavour to make it interesting for the evening - quite lovely. Another five years shouldn’t hurt. DRINK or HOLD
Sena 2021
(Cabernet Sauvignon 50% / Malbec 27% / Carmenere 17% / Petit Verdot 6%)
Subtle mint notes on both the nose and palate. Tannins are fine yet grippy and the dark fruit is ripe and warming. This wine needs to develop further; 5 years should be nice before starting its drinking window. HOLD
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The last of these iconic wine was created in 1999, as a tribute to Edouardo’s father: Don Alfonso Chadwick, once captain of the Chilean polo team. He planted the old polo field on the property when he retired in 1992, to mainly Cabernet. The vineyard sits at 650m above sea level and is made up of gravelly/stony soils. Sadly, Don Alfonso never saw the fruit of his labours, passing away in 1993. Edouardo decided it was only fitting to make a wine honouring the man and the vineyard he planted on his beloved polo field.
Errazuriz 2000 Vinedo Chadwick
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
A cool vintage … Second vintage of this wine: earthy, smoky, mocha, tobacco; there's age here, but it's still on the level of a very good wine - coffee bean takes over the finish. DRINK
Errazuriz 2014 Vinedo Chadwick
(Cabernet Sauvignon)
There's a pretty floral elegance here - the fruit comes out and so does the smoke: there’s mocha, black cherry, cassis and even a hint of blueberry skin. No rush, but it drinks very well now. DRINK or HOLD
Errazuriz 2021 Vinedo Chadwick
(Cabernet Sauvignon 97% / Petit Verdot 3%)
Vibrant and fruit-driven, nice tannin kick, acidity is on point, a wine that needs 5 years and will be stunning. HOLD
20
Dec
2024
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
(November 2023) … I have often called the Rhone Valley my “desert island region” – if I am stuck on a desert island and I can only get wine from one region, well need I say more … Today, we get a crash course in Rhone Valley wines from the people who know it best: their winemakers.
By the numbers … 
- 31 Appellations in the Rhone Valley
- 34 Grape varieties grown
- over 2000 years of production
- 2nd behind Bordeaux for AOC vineyards (31)
- 65,197 hectares: 76% red wine / 19% rosé / 11% white
- 1592 independent wineries
- Canada ranks 4th in exports (9%) - Belgium 18% / UK 15% / USA 14%
- Interesting to learn: 1 million bottles of Rhone Valley wine is sold every day - 1/3 are in export markets
- Production in the Rhone is a majority down in the south: 5% in the north / 95% in the south
- There are 17 Crus / 22 Cotes du Rhone Villages (geographical names) / Cotes du Rhone Villages (95 communes) / Cotes du Rhone (171 communes)
- For those interested in climate effect: in the last 28 years, the average harvest is now 15 days earlier
- Looking for mitigate heat rises, one must plant vines higher up: for each 100m up you lose .65 degrees of temperature
- Grenache most planted red grape - Grenache 49% - Syrah 29% - top two grape varieties - Carignan / Counoise are secondary grapes that are working well with climate change
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The Grapes of the Rhone Valley
(abbreviated from Rhone Valley handout) 
GRENACHE NOIR
“Grenache, the most widely grown grape variety in the Rhône Valley, is a charmer, offering both warmth and roundness of character.”
SYRAH
“This grape was for a long time believed to have originated in Persia, Syria, or perhaps Syracuse. However, recent analyses have shown its roots to be in Savoy and the Ardèche.”
CARIGNAN
“The Carignan vine requires plenty of warmth and is not sensitive to drought or strong winds. Hot, dry hillsides are ideal. On low-fertility soils and hillsides, it yields a beautifully coloured wine, well-structured with plenty of tannins.”
MOURVÈDRE
“Mourvèdre is now widely cultivated in the southern Rhône Valley on sun-drenched south-facing slopes. Robust, of unequalled warmth and generosity, it yields wines that are powerful, full-bodied, strong in tannins, yet very stylish - since 2002 has had its own fan club, the ‘Conservatoire du cépage Mourvèdre’”.
CINSAULT
“Requires plenty of warmth and is resistant to drought and strong winds. With its average depth of colour, stylish fruity flavours, low acidity and supple tannins, Cinsault is well suited for making rosé wines by the “saignée” method and early drinking wines.”
GRENACHE BLANC
“Grenache Blanc produces white wines that are full-bodied, low in acidity, mellow, with a lingering finish.”
MUSCAT BLANC
“The small-berried Muscat Blanc grape is of Greek origin. It is the only permitted grape variety in the composition of Muscat Beaumes De Venise wines.”
VIOGNIER
“Originally, it was grown exclusively in the northern Côtes du Rhône (from Vienne to Valence). Today, this white grape variety stands out as much for its rarity as for the complexity of some of its aromas.”
LA CLAIRETTE
“Clairette is one of southern France’s oldest grape varieties, typical of the Mediterranean region. The vine is well adapted to dry, infertile limestone soils. Clairette can be vinified on its own or blended with other grape varieties. The grapes produce a fruity wine, high in alcohol content and low in acidity.”
LA ROUSSANNE
“It does well on soils that are warm, stony and well drained, on thin, arid hillside soils, and on stony soils consisting of alluvial deposits and limestone. It is a delicate and very stylish grape. Roussanne produces wines of great elegance, stylish and complex.”
The Wines Tasted …
Halos de Jupiter 2020 Red - Cotes du Rhone 
(Grenache 75% - Mourvedre 15% - Syrah 10%)
Smoky-cherry, strawberry and other dense dark fruits - good oak integrations with sweet herbs and spices. (****+)
Cave de Tain 2018 Hermitage Heritiers Gambert
(Syrah 100%)
Plum and cherry - licorice and spice – with subtle herbal notes. (****)
Chateau Beaubois 2022 Cuvee Confidence - Costieres de Nimes
(Grenache Blanc 95% - Viognier 3% - Roussanne 2%)
Touches of minerality and freshness, with decent acidity. There are hints of pineapple and fresh lime on the mid-palate through to the finish. (****)
Chateau du Trignon (Famille Quiot) 2017 Red - Gigondas
(Grenache - Mourvedre – Syrah)
Lots of spicy dark fruit: plum, blackberry, black cherry, licorice, with a pleasant herbal component. (****)
Domaine Autrand 2020 Cotes du Rhone Villages
(Grenache Noir 70%, Syrah 30%)
Nice spicy nature with darker fruit and smoke. Notes of blueberry, cassis and smoked-cherry. (****)
Domaine de la Citadelle 2022 Le Chataignier - Luberon
(60% Syrah, 30% Grenache et 10% Cinsault)
Gentle acidity, fresh and lively with pretty floral character, along with some apricot and peach. (*** ½+)
Domaine des Garances 2022 Alazard - Beaumes de Venise
(Grenache noir 65%, Syrah 35%)
Spicy dark fruit. (*** ½+)
Lavau 2022 White - Cotes du Rhone
(Grenache Blanc 60% - Clairette 40%)
Decent and soft of acidity; there is pineapple and peach, richer mouthfeel. (*** ½+)
Mas Carlot 2020 Generations - Costieres de Nimes
(Grenache noir 55%, Syrah 40%, Mourvèdre 5%)
Dark fruited: blackberry and smoke with cocoa character on the finish. (*** ½+)
Cave de Bonnieux 2020 Cuvee Revelation - Luberon
(Syrah 85% - Grenache 15%)
Juicy blackberry, fresh plum, and subtle spicy notes on the finish. (*** ½)
Chateau d'Aqueria 2022 Rose - Tavel
(Grenache 50% - Syrah 20% - Clairette 10% - Mourvedre 10% - Bourboulenc 5% - Cinsault 5%)
Strawberry-sour cherry dominant, subtle white pepper, with some lime pith on the finish. (*** ½)
Chateau D'Orsan 2022 Cotes du Rhone Villages Chusclan
(Grenache noir 50%, Syrah 40%, Carignan 10%)
Dark fruited and earthy (*** ½)
Les Vignes de L'Arque 2022 Cuvee Les Chemins de Rome - Duche d'Uzes
(Grenache Blanc 40% - Viognier 40% - Roussanne 20%)
Tropical, yet soft with a subtle bitterness that helps balance the wine. (*** ½)
Maison Sinnae 2021 Villa Voltinia - Cotes du Rhone Villages, Chusclan
(Grenache Noir, Syrah)
Smoky, dark fruited and earthy- good acidity with some oak influence on the finish. (*** ½)
Cave de Cairanne 2021 Cuvee Insouciante - Cotes du Rhone
(Grenache)
Juicy and easy drinking – quite gulpable. (***+)
