Vinedo Chadwick 2021

The 2021 Viñedo Chadwick fermented in stainless steel and troncoconic concrete vats, spent some 10 months in barrique, and then part of the wine (some 20%) was sent to the Stockinger foudres. The nose is reminiscent of a super elegant and sleek Bordeaux, pure and clean, less balsamic than in previous years and less herbal. It's perfumed and floral, precise, fresh and elegant, with very fi ne tannins, and despite the grape, itis more Pomerol than Graves, with 14% alcohol on the label but without any heat at all. It's velvety and luxurious, juicy and tasty, with fi ne-grained chalky tannins and the elegant stoniness that the best Maipos are capable of. It has structure and power, like the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. This has to be the fi nest vintage for Chadwick; the wine made my heart beat faster—it's a wine of emotion. This is also my fi rst100-point wine from Chile! The final blend contains around 3% Petit Verdot from vines planted in 2005. There are some 10,000 bottles of this, and it was all bottled all at once on January 31, 2023.

“The extremely deep nose is an endlessly fascinating tapestry of red and black berries with graphite, savoury and wet-earth notes. Super-concentrated, refined and fragrant on the full-bodied palate, everything fitting together so beautifully. Extremely long and refined finish. Drink or hold.” 20th Anniversary Berlin Tasting Event, February 2024.

‘After appearing as a single varietal in 2020, Chadwick has reverted to being a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Petit Verdot in 2021. (…) The focus, balance and precision of this wine are remarkable, with acidity, brightness and what the French call “tension” at its core. Stylishly wooded in 80% new oak, it combines aromas of graphite, mocha and bay leaf with a palate of black cherry, cassis, orange zest and cranberry complemented by serious, layered tannins and a lingering, satisfying finish. World class.’

Deep dark ruby with an opaque core and purple reflections, delicately brighter at the edge. Subtle notes of cassis, mocha, vanilla caramel, dark fruits of the forest, a hint of fresh fig, very subtle precious wood notes and orange zest. Complex, juicy, sweet texture, with ripe, sweet red cherry. Vivid, supporting tannins, pronounced in fruit and mineral-salty. Still extremely young and somewhat closed in this phase, but shows very good length and enormous ageing potential. Patience is required here but the ageing potential is clearly recognisable. Undoubtedly the greatest red wine produced in Chile to date.

Maipo Alto was not as cool as Aconcagua in the 2021 growing season, with temperatures closer to historical average with the exception of a cold February, and this clearly falls into the balanced category. Crushed roses, pencil lead, cassis, ink, liquorice, cocoa bean, espresso, infused with sculpted Maipo Cabernet signature. Has structure and depth, with fine grained tannins adding support and expansion but not overpowering. Well-defined and precise, and this lengthens out on the palate, built to last, and will evolve slowly. Winemaker Francisco Baettig. Ageing in 80% new French oak barrels, plus 20% large oak casks.

The 2021 Vinedo Chadwick, 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot, is deep garnet-purple in color. It skips out of the glass with bright, energetic scents of blackcurrant jelly, redcurrant preserves, and wild blueberries, giving way to suggestions of pencil shavings, lavender, and wild thyme. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers intense black and red fruit layers with beautifully ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and earthy. 

The 2021 Viñedo Chadwick is a Cabernet Sauvignon with a dash of Petit Verdot (3%) from Puente Alto, Maipo. It was aged for 22 months, 80% in new French oak barrels and 20% in foudres. The mild summer in the area helped to sculpt the vivid, nuanced aromatic profile: crystal clear blackcurrant notes with sour cherry and raspberry layers plus hints of pepper over a faint cigar box bed. Silky and dry in the mouth, the finely tuned Maipo tannins and refreshing acidity from the cool year make for a long-lasting, complex wine. A Bordeaux-inspired red that enjoyed the very Bordelaise weather in the region this year.

The moderately cool 2021 growing season gave a long, even ripening that preserved the acidity and gives this wine elegance and finesse. This smells wonderful, full of chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla, fragrant blackcurrants, roses and raspberries - simply gorgeous. Crunchy and chewy, the best combination of being fully flavoured and densely textured with high, mouthwatering acidity that lifts the mouthfeel and creates such a joyful expression. Direct and focussed, this doesn't deviate too much from the centre of the palate, but it has energy and drive with a soft expansions of dried herbs, flowers and ripe berries. It's more the texture and the finish that leaves such an impression - you just want another sip straight away, with cool refreshing mint, tobacco and liquorice spice adding the nuance on the persistent finish. Utterly sublime. Ageing 22 months, 80% in new French oak barrels, 20% in foudres.