The Wall Street Journal had a great article in this past Friday’s paper on Pinot Noir cultivation in Chile. The article is essentially all about Errazuriz, and describes at length Francisco Baettig’s background and efforts to establish Errazuriz as a premium producer in Chile.
Here is the link, and the full piece is below:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203476804576616663933456054.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Errazuriz has put out a fascinating harvest report on the 2011 vintage. It looks like overall it was a cooler spring and slightly cooler year than average, but heat summation was close to historical averages in some areas and slightly below in others. Yields were low, wines are very good to excellent, with wonderful freshness, balance, aromatic intensity and flavor. Click on the image below for the full report on the various appellations in which Errazuriz works.
Decanter Magazine’s August 2011 cover issues looks at the 25 top wineries from Chile and Argentina (15 from Chile and 10 from Argentina). Both Errazuriz and Finca Decero make the list, with truly great comments on both estates.
The Errazuriz review hits on the vision and relentless innovation (the winery, Aconcagua Costa plantings, Berlin Tasting) that have made Errazuriz an industry leader. As for Finca Decero, it is the newest winery listed in the Argentine Top 10 and a special accomplishment that after only a few vintages it is considered one of the leading Argentine wineries; the review touches on Decero’s gentle approach in viticulture, winemaking and wine style, and the great value the wines offer.
We did a little sell here that you can see here.
Errazuriz has been getting top reviews from Chile for two years running, but this week’s set of reviews by Josh Raynolds in IWC are among the best to date – namely, these reviews confirm that Errazuriz is making compelling wines across a number of varieties and appellations. It is an extremely impressive picture when taken together. Overall, two of the top three wines are from Errazuriz (Vinedo Chadwick 2008 and Don Max 2008), and in addition we had an astounding array of 90 Point scores across the Single Vineyard/Specialty wines you can download here a little sheet we did listing these scores.
Wine & Spirits Magazine gave 90 points scores to two excellent values from Errazuriz in the just-released June 2011 issue:
Errazuriz Carmenere Single Vineyard 2009: “Focused on fruit, this carmenère emphasizes blackberry and cherry flavors in a simple line, along with soft touches of pepper. The lovely texture and rich depth of flavor are its best assets.” – 90 points, W&S Best Buy
Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 2009: “Fresh scents hinting at menthol come first, followed by red fruit notes that take the lead role on the palate with ripe cherry flavors. Tense and tannic, this wine’s texture is robust enough for wild game.”- 90 points, W&S Best Buy, Top 100 Values of the Year
We’ve posted a number of photos on Facebook and now have some nice albums of Guigal, Errazuriz, Finca Decero (including photos our recent trip), Quinta do Noval, Telmo Rodriguez and Mitolo. Cool!
Frank Mitolo and Ben Glaetzer walking in the Lopresti vineyard, in the Willunga Hills section of McLaren Vale
Some extraordinary reviews for Errazuriz just out in the latest Wine Advocate. Viñedo Chadwick is the single top-rated wine, with a 97 point review. With the #1 wine and 3 of the top 5 scores in this year’s reviews, Errazuriz is head and shoulders above the competition. This star turn confirm’s Errazuriz’s position as the premier family wine estate of Chile. Full reviews are below the jump. Congratulations to the whole team at Errazuriz!
Today’s front-page article at Harpers.co.uk offers play-by-play coverage of Errazuriz’ dramatic opening gala for its brand new winery. With a moat, shifting walls, and a background of majestic Chilean landscapes, the entire evening seemed more like an action movie than a winery opening gala. Writes author Richard Siddle:
“I doubt we will put on a better show for the opening of London 2012…If the wines that Eduardo and his team make at the new winery are even half as good as the show they put on in opening it then sign me up.”
The iconic winery promises not to disappoint. Read all about the spectacular evening here.
Howard Hewitt of the Grape Sense column for in Indiana recently hailed Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Single Vineyard as an approachable, enjoyable, and easily available wine. Pairing it with cherry-smoke rubbed beef filet with dark chocolate power, Hewitt noted the wine’s “big and lucious flavor of deep cherry and spice. The tannins were well balanced and pronounced without being over-powering…it’s really dynamite Cabernet!”
Click here for the rest of his review.
Jamie Goode recently caught up with Francisco Baettig, chief winemaker at Errazuriz, at Restaurant 28-50 in London over good food and, of course, excellent wine. Each course featured an Errazuriz wine as well as a wine that had inspired Francisco during his career. Not surprisingly, given Francisco’s background studying oenology in the Medoc, many of the wines came from Bordeaux. The Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2009 was paired against a Château Couhins 2006 from Pessac, and in what must be one of the most powerful pairings ever, the Don Maximiano 2007 was set across from a Château Gruad Larosse 2005. Incredible stuff, and you can read more about Goode’s evening with Francisco here.
