2020

Unlike its predecessor, 2020 was a challenging season with warmer and drier conditions that required some precise viticultural interventions for the wine to excel. Due to low water reserves at the start of the vineyard cycle, it was essential to irrigate during winter to ensure a good bud-break, which began on September 20. The warm spring gave perfect conditions for a healthy, homogeneous flowering and veraison, with the latter finishing on January 15, ten days earlier than normal.

Again, the team worked on the vines’ canopies to encourage a perfect equilibrium between the grapes’ phenolic development and their accumulation of sugars. It chose to begin to pick the earliest parcels at the desired levels of maturity on March 12, completing the final blocks seventeen days later. As the Petit Verdot did not perform well in such hot conditions, only Cabernet Sauvignon was used in the wine. The end result is a stunning example that transcends the vintage. According to Chadwick, it is ‘a delightfully expressive wine with depth and concentration, very elegant tannins, multiple layers of complexity, deep colour, freshness and purity.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

The world’s top fine-wine reviewers have not dissented from Eduardo’s opinion on the new wine. In fact, several were much more fulsome.

Decanter’s Georgina Hindle Gorgeous nose with tobacco, cherry and strawberry nuances ... Incredibly aromatic. Beautifully textured and supremely balanced with tannins that are there but fine and gently supporting the fruit. Coffee, cinnamon, liquorice, all gentle and nuanced. Feels well controlled and purposeful. There is concentration, no doubt, but this has exceptional acidity, fruit forwardness and poise. A real sense of class. 98 points

Luis Gutiérrez was notably impressed Unique wine[which had outperformed in such a warm year] ...The palate is round and velvety, keeping very good freshness and a texture and mouthfeel that does not reflect a warmer year at all.This is delicate and juicy with very good intensity of fruit and no room for sweetness or over ripeness.A triumph over the natural conditions of the year. 97 points

According to James Suckling it was yet another glorious wine in every respect Deep nose, but also precise and nuanced, with high-grade cigar box, fresh red berries, currants, charcoal, grilled meat and olives. Fine cocoa bean and mint, too. Ultra-fine and polished with a very precise, rather linear palate for Cabernet. Restrained, classy and long with a hint of crème de cassis in the end. Drink or hold. 98 points

2019

The 2019 growing season kicked off with a moderately warm spring causing bud-break and flowering to take place on time and in perfect conditions. The summer was also warm enough to prompt the viticultural team to create more leaf canopy to shade the fruit and slow its maturation. March was cool and this further helped preserve the grapes’ acidity and aromatic intensity right up to the harvest. This began in ideal conditions on March 15. In early 2021, Eduardo Chadwick proudly announced the arrival of another exceptional vintage of Viñedo Chadwick, possessing ‘extreme elegance and finesse, freshness and superb ageing potential’.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

In his highly enthusiastic review of the wine for The Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez compared it to the 2016 I was truly impressed by this vintage ... There are showy aromas reminiscent of tangerine and flowers, ripe red berries (rather than black) and a spicy twist from the oak. The grapes were picked very early, and the wine follows the path of the 2016, the coolest vintage so far, with juicy fruit, elegance and great tension. This feels exceptional and transcends the style of the year. 97 points

Others who were notably impressed included Tom Parker MW, writing on JancisRobinson.com The nose is dense and brooding, with notes of liquorice and cassis. Though ripe, there is a compact, svelte nature to this wine. Layers of cassis and roasted dark cherries are framed by rich, ripe, mouth-coating tannins. Deep and structured, it will need a few years in bottle to reveal its true potential. 17+ out of 20

Writing for Club Oenologique, John Stimpfig was utterly seduced. An alluring nose and palate reveal bright fruits (raspberries, violets and black currants) with a touch of cedar, spice and graphite. The subtle, filigree-textured tannins are as seamless as the deft oak. Lively acidity and elegant mid-weight structure provide great harmony and a long attenuated finish. Deliciously drinkable already, this will also make old bones – if you can wait that long. 97 points

Once again, James Suckling came out strongly behind the wine Subtle and very beautiful with currants, tarragon, basil and rose petals in the aromas. It’s full-bodied, yet agile and so fine-textured with superb tannins that provide multi-layers on the palate. It’s refined, yet powerful at the end. Suggests greatness and longevity. Lots of black currants, stones and violets in the after taste. This needs three or four years to show its true greatness. 99 points

2018

The outstanding 2018 vintage benefited from ideal conditions throughout the season. A winter with good rainfall was followed by a mild spring. December was warm and January slightly fresh. Then came warmer temperatures in February and March enabling a long, gentle ripening of the grapes. The harvest began on March 12 and finished on March 29.

Tasting the grapes that month, Francisco Baettig recalled the perfect ripeness of the skins and seeds, not to mention their outstanding balance, flavour and acidity. This year, 3% Petit Verdot made it into the blend alongside the mainstay of Cabernet Sauvignon. On bottling the wine in February 2020, Baettig noted its ‘unique depth’ and suggested that this was perhaps ‘the most balanced vintage of Viñedo Chadwick ever crafted, promising great ageing potential.’

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

When the wine was released, it drew even more astonishment and rapturous applause from the critics as it was launched on the Bordeaux Place for the very first time.

Jane Anson reviewed it in Decanter and was duly impressed, as her note and score illustrate Stand back and admire the tannic structure on display here, giving just the right amount of space to let through sweet cherry, raspberry, thyme, black pepper and spiced rosemary notes at this early stage, and promising so much more as it ages. One to savour. 98 points

In his 2021 Chile Report, Tim Atkin MW named it his Overall Red Wine of the Year This is the best release yet from this polo field turned world-class vineyard, more immediately open and appealing than the 2017 was at the same stage ... Elegant and ethereal, with no sign of tell-tale Chilean eucalyptus, it’s a red that could easily be slipped incognito into tasting of top Bordeaux Crus Classés. 99 points

In The Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez picked out the ageing potential of this wine, while giving it his highest score to date The little bit of Petit Verdot in the blend gives it a spicy touch. It’s vibrant, balanced and intense, still a little young and creamy, and I’d wait a little bit longer before pulling the cork. This can surely age in bottle, as it has the ingredients and the balance to do so; it has the elegance of 2016 with a little more structure and depth – and a little more clout too. 97 points

2017

This vintage was torridly hot in much of Chile. However, as Tim Atkin MW pointed out in his 2020 Chile Report, the 2017 Viñedo Chadwick showed no sign of this, whatsoever. Thanks to the warmer spring, bud-break and flowering occurred ten days earlier than usual. As the season progressed, Francisco Baettig and the team were pleased and surprised by December rainfall of 28mm, which refreshed the vines at just the right time. January was also hot and dry with veraison taking place ten days ahead of average.

Low yields, combined with high temperatures in January and February meant the earliest harvest ever recorded at Viñedo Chadwick. The manual picking of the Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot (4%) grapes began on March 10. At just 13%, the wine was remarkably fresh, elegant and intense with tannins that caressed the palate making it one of the wine’s most complete renditions, according to Eduardo Chadwick.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Writing in Descorchados, Patricio Tapia gave praise Fresh and vibrant [style, given the more challenging conditions of the vintage] ... The difference is that the mid-palate and tannic structure are firmer here than they were in 2016. 97 points

In his 2020 Chile Report, Tim Atkin MW once again reminded his readers The wine fully merits its status as one of South America’s best. 97 points

Most impressed of all was James Suckling, who gave the 2017 another perfect score The pure fruit and juicy tannins are so succulent and enticing. Full body and soft, silky tannins. Complete. Everything is where it should be. Ripe fruit and tangy acidity provide energy and balance. Love the finish. Precise and fine-grained texture. 100 points

2016

The 2016 growing season in the Alto Maipo created the stage for another outstanding vintage of this special vineyard. July rains brought an end to the dry winter and continued until November, replenishing depleted water levels. The rain also came with marginally cooler temperatures during the spring, delaying bud-break by a week. October was cooler still as the vines’ canopies developed slowly until temperatures picked up towards the end of November. From then on, warm weather ensured a healthy, if uneven, flowering and fruit set. However, a perfect summer once again provided a long and steady hang time. The grapes were all picked in the morning for optimum freshness between April 5 and 13 – sixteen days later than the 2015 vintage. This was highly propitious as heavy rains arrived shortly afterwards, recording 123mm in just two weeks.

For the first time, Viñedo Chadwick included a small amount of Petit Verdot – just 3% from vines planted in 2011. The end result was a beautifully balanced wine of modest alcohol (13%), precise bright fruit and great elegance.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Without question, the wine was an instant hit with all the major reviewers.

Luis Gutiérrez reminded his readers in October 2018, in The Wine Advocate, that the quality was Going through the roof ... This is a unique, classical Maipo Cabernet ... Complex, layered, fresh and tasty, it has very fine tannins and is nicely structured but terribly elegant at the same time. 96 points, his highest score to date.

Tim Atkin MW went one point higher in his 2019 Chile Report, also ranking it the best Chilean red for the third consecutive year, with a note to match Fully established as one of the New World’s greatest reds, this is a deliciously fresh, nuanced, well-balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot ... The 80% new wood is very gracefully integrated, complementing the fine, detailed tannins and graphite-scented cassis fruit. Not cheap, but there’s no denying the pedigree of this wine. 97 points

James Suckling was also captivated and scored the wine accordingly The blue fruit and dark-berry aromas are so attractive and catching. Black licorice and blackberry notes. Full body, chewy yet polished tannins. I like the way the wine rolls over the tongue. Beautiful finish. One of the most structured Viñedo Chadwicks ever. A great bottle. Needs four to five years to soften. 99 points

Patricio Tapia continued his appreciation of the new vintage, scoring it 98 points in Descorchados in January 2019.

2015

Following the excellent 2014 vintage, 2015 was an ideal growing season for Viñedo Chadwick. Bud-break began on September 29 and was followed by a warm spring, resulting in a healthy flowering and fruit set, presaging the likelihood of small, concentrated berries. February was slightly cooler than average, but March was slightly warmer. Reacting quickly and decisively to the increase in temperatures and the impact it was having on acidity levels in the fruit, the team began precise, block-by-block harvesting on March 21, finishing nine days later.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

On release, the critics’ response was unanimously positive with a raft of scores in the 95–99 range.

UK writer and Chilean expert Peter Richards MW was immediately impressed; writing in Decanter in 2017, he described the new vintage as Stunning new-wave Alto Maipo Cabernet, pioneering in the way that it marries super-fine yet dense, abundant and immensely cultured tannins with an elegant and complex scent. Displays a wonderfully lifted freshness and admirable finesse. Young, epic and exciting. 97 points

For the second year running, Viñedo Chadwick was Tim Atkin’s highest scoring red wine in his 2018 Chile Report Picked in March for the first time, this is the freshest and most refined release yet from this bijou Maipo Alto vineyard. More Lafite than Latour in style, it’s elegant, refined and refreshing, with wonderful grace and poise, chalky minerality and notes of graphite, cassis and fennel. 98 points, in further recognition, Atkin also named Francisco Baettig as his Chilean Winemaker of the Year.

In addition, backing for the new style and the vintage came from Patricio Tapia Until this 2015 we didn’t know that Alto Maipo could offer this level of liveliness and elegance. A true surprise. 98 points

A shade higher was James Suckling Very deep and primary fruit character in this red gives the wine amazing length and focus. It seems to go on forever. Full body yet vivid and energetic. Tannic and muscular yet so polished and finish. 99 points

2014

This wine will be remembered as another exceptional vintage at Viñedo Chadwick that is rightly heralded for its unique balance, fruit purity and profundity. It will also be remembered as another ‘game-changing’ wine for Chile’s fine-wine industry as it recorded a slew of scores in the high 90s and the country’s first, perfect 100-point rating.

Initial concerns over a cool spring subsided in October due to a steady increase in temperatures, leading to a healthy flowering and fruit set. A warm, dry January gave way to cooler weather from February to April and the total heat summation for the year ended up below its historic average. The grapes ripened steadily and evenly until they reached their optimum maturity level.

Francisco Baettig points out that, ‘our lower yields, dry conditions and constant quest for elegance, freshness and purity resulted in an earlier harvest. We started picking the Cabernet Sauvignon on March 20, with some lots picked up to fifteen days earlier than usual. This has enabled us to capture the wonderful acidity, fine-grained tannins and vivid fruit that characterizes the 2014 Viñedo Chadwick.’ Significantly, the wine also came in at just 13.5% alcohol, while just 400 cases were produced – half the usual production.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

The reaction from the world’s leading wine critics was overwhelmingly positive.

UK reviewer and Chile expert Tim Atkin MW agreed, scoring the wine top red in his 2017 Chile Report This brilliant Maipo Cabernet comes from a vineyard in Puente Alto, planted in 1999 ... It’s a wonderfully subtle, nuanced, textured wine with floral almost Lafite-like grace and poise. 98 points

Finally, but perhaps not surprisingly, came the note and score that, once again, redefined Viñedo Chadwick’s global reputation. In June 2016, James Suckling scored the wine at 100 points with a tasting note to match. This is a wine that simultaneously defines elegance and power ... Complex aromas of blueberry, black currant and black licorice. Full-body yet refined and beautiful with stunning length and complexity. It has a transparency that shows such greatness and beauty. Has an energy and brightness. Chile’s first perfect wine and well deserved.

2013

The 2013 vintage was characterized by its cool growing conditions, which provided moderate overall temperatures, especially during the spring months. Better conditions then ensued during bud-break and flowering, which helped progress the vines’ progress thanks to warm summer days and cool nights. A good stretch of higher temperatures from mid-January through to February helped accelerate the ripening of the crop. This was followed by a long and even ripening phase in March, giving the fruit an extended hanging period. The harvest arrived in mid-April delivering a remarkable crop of beautifully rich, ripe and intense fruit.

In March 2015, just after bottling, Eduardo Chadwick noted that the new vintage ‘combines exceptional structure and elegance with a sense of restraint, providing great pleasure even at this early stage of its life.’

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

At The Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez picked up Notes of red cherries intermixed with the more classical blackberries and tobacco leaves, spices and cigar box aromas; it is very subtle, layered and complex, even though the wine shows very young ... The result is a fresher wine with moderate alcohol and the oak feels better integrated, even though it’s still mostly new. There are the tell-tale Cabernet tannins, very polished and fine, but with grip; the texture is velvety, lifted by a fine thread of acidity. 94 points

James Suckling clearly approved of the wine’s new stylistic shift and came out strongly in its favour when he tasted it in 2015 This pure Cabernet Sauvignon shows wonderful, subtle eucalyptus and black currant character. Cold stones and roses too. It’s firm and linear with a full body, compacted tannins and a lightly chewy and tangy finish. A red with form and strength. 98 points

2012

The Maipo Valley experienced warm conditions during the 2011–12 season. Minimum and maximum average temperatures were higher than the historic average, except in January when temperatures dropped slightly. February and March were the warmest months of the season, reaching an average of 29.7°C (85.5°F). At Viñedo Chadwick, yields were lower due to the poor induction of the buds, following the cold spring of 2010. Overall, the conditions of low yields and warmer temperatures resulted in an early harvest, which began on March 21.

Eduardo Chadwick presented the wine in 2014 and noted that, ‘its soft texture and extremely silky and fine-grained tannins speak of a wine that is classy, elegant and subtle, with a long life ahead.’

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Early reactions to the new vintage release were once again highly positive.

James Suckling was even more enthusiastic, in October 2014, comparing the 2012 to one of the greatest wines in Bordeaux – and scoring it accordingly This is a superb red with currant, white truffle, sandalwood and stone ... Full body, chewy tannins and a powerful finish. Turns to iodine. Gravel and hints of licorice too. Very, very long. This IS the La Mission Haut-Brion of Chile. A phenomenal Cabernet Sauvignon. 97 points

Writing in 2017 for Decanter, Patricio Tapia found much to admire A combination of low yields and warm conditions in the vineyard led to harvest earlier than usual in search of freshness in the grapes. In this 2012 you can feel a deep density of flavours, together with a sharp acidity accompanied by soft, spicy touches and a tense yet mellow texture. A delicate Maipo. 95 points

2011

This was a cool year and a long growing season in the Alto Maipo, enabling the estate to fashion an even more sophisticated style of Viñedo Chadwick. Average temperatures over the growing season were lower than in the previous years and the historic average, owing to drops in both minimum and maximum temperatures for virtually every month. Even January, the warmest month of the season, was unusually cool and had a lower heat summation than the previous three years. All this led to a longer and more heterogeneous veraison. Finally, the crop reached maturity during the last weeks of April, with grapes of great balance and flavour.

For the first time, the percentage of new barriques used was reduced to just 77% in the 2011 vintage. Without question this resulted in a vibrant Viñedo Chadwick of great precision, tension, complexity and length.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

By 2013, Luis Gutiérrez had taken over from Neal Martin as Chile’s fine wine reviewer for The Wine Advocate The nose shows hints of complexity, with fresh but ripe red fruit, balsamic notes of black pepper, a layer of toasted, smoky oak notes of coffee that needs to be integrated, and a remarkable absence of herbaceous notes, especially for a cold vintage like 2011 ...The tannins are extremely fine, silky and velvety, the flavors are pure and defined, with great intensity and balanced acidity.This doesn’t look like a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s getting closer to a wine of terroir.This is a great wine that should get even better in the future. 93 points

James Suckling also noted and approved of the subtle change in direction This is a fantastic bottle with currants, blueberry, hot stone and light hint of mint and sage. Full body, with firm and silky tannins that are wonderfully polished. They have been working towards a slightly fresher and more linear style. 97 points

Another critic who welcomed and noticed the stylistic fine-tuning was Patricio Tapia, writing in Decanter A very cold year has given a delicate Viñedo Chadwick, very focussed on acidity and red fruits. Winemaker Francisco Baettig opted to reduce the new oak for the first time to respect the character of the vintage, a manoeuvre which has given positive results. This is still very young and very vital, with notes of fresh mint and crispy red fruits. You should make some room in your cellar for this. 94 points

2010

The 2010 growing season provided generally cooler conditions and the harvest began later than usual. The ripening was slow, gentle and even, which meant that the grapes reached maturity in excellent conditions. The Cabernet Sauvignon fruit was aged in French barriques for twenty-two months. This time though, the oak regime was 95% new as opposed to 100%. It was then bottled in early 2012. ‘Without doubt, the 2010 Viñedo Chadwick is a wine with tremendous aromas as well as great finesse, elegance and length,’ observed Eduardo Chadwick.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

One of the first reviews was from Michael Schachner in Wine Enthusiast in 2013 The quality is excellent ... Earthy aromas of lead pencil, baked plum, cassis and black cherry include chocolate and minerality. Chocolate and licorice rise up on the long finish. 92 points

Neal Martin was equally complimentary in The Wine Advocate The 2010 Viñedo Chadwick has a sophisticated bouquet, with pure dark cherry, iodine and blueberry aromas that waft gently from the glass ... The palate is smooth and toasty on the entry. There is a lot of oak here, but it has the fruit to support it, while the finish maintains impressive definition and structure. 92 points

Josh Reynolds’ review for Vinous.com in 2014 was more fulsome Heady aromas of cherry compote, cassis, lavender, pipe tobacco and candied licorice ...Juicy and precise.Depth but energy.Bitter cherry and spices, long sappy, slow- mounting tannins, lingering sweetness and florality.Remarkable focus / clarity.This wine stands up to many of the very best of Bordeaux. 94 points

In 2015, it was tasted by James Suckling A racy Cabernet with plum and dark berry character and hints of chocolate ... It’s full-bodied, with firm tannins and a fresh finish. Plenty of hazelnut and cherry character in the aftertaste. 95 points. Significantly, Joaquin Hidalgo makes the point in his 2022 feature that The 2010 vintage marked the zenith of the ripe stylistic approach to this wine.

The following year, an even more exciting chapter for Viñedo Chadwick was about to begin …

2009

The Viñedo Chadwick 2009 has evolved as a magnificent wine from one of the warmest vintages on record in the Maipo. The growing season began with average temperatures up to February. From then on, in March and April, the weather began to register almost extreme temperatures and the viticultural team was careful to monitor the vines closely and protect the fruit. Once again, the decision was made to harvest the grapes on the ‘morning-sun’ side of the canopy and those on the ‘afternoon-sun’ side at different times, due to the stark differences in their maturity. As a result, the two groups were harvested ten days apart with both picked at optimal ripeness.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

In 2012, Neal Martin reviewed the 2009 for The Wine Advocate in its December issue A lovely, Margaux inspired floral bouquet with superb delineation and vigor. The palate is rounded and generous with fine tannins and excellent delineation towards the finish. Yet despite this fulsome note, he only gave the wine 93 points. Martin went on to explain his ‘relatively mean’ score Thought long and hard about this ... But I firmly feel that recent vintages completely outshine the older ones and speaking at length with Francisco Baettig, there is a sense of a winery changing tack and, in my opinion, what this estate will produce in the next twenty years will completely surpass the previous twenty years.

In 2016, James Suckling picked out Aromas of ripe fruit, plum and tea leaf. Hotter year. Full body, round and velvety tannins and a savory and rich finish. Fruit-forward. Needs another two or three years but delicious now. 94 points

When Joaquin Hidalgo tasted it from bottle in 2022, he described it as a very pure, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon An intense nose of herbs and dried fig, blackberry jam and hints of licorice ... On the palate, it has a warm richness with Puente Alto’s refined tannins, which deliver luxury and balance. 92 points

2008

The 2008 vintage was marked by a cold, dry start with winter frosts affecting the onset of bud-break. As a result, this took place ten to fifteen days later than in the previous year. The significantly delayed start and the lack of groundwater due to the lack of rainfall over the winter combined to produce a short vegetative growth period that only recovered between fruit set and veraison after better weather in January and February. Warmer months then followed in both March and April when the grapes were finally harvested in ideal conditions. In the end, the yields of Cabernet Sauvignon were down by around 10%, giving greater concentration and good tannic structure.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Once again, Jay Miller was completely seduced when he published his note and score in December 2011 for The Wine Advocate It offers up a sexy perfume of exotic spices, sandalwood, incense, rose petal, black currant, and blackberry ... This sets the stage for a structured, concentrated, impeccably balanced wine that deftly combines elegance and power. It mandates five to six years of additional cellaring and will deliver prime drinking from 2016 to 2028-plus. 96 points

Five years later, James Suckling published a note suggesting that the wine was getting into its stride after more time in bottle A red with very ripe red fruit plus hints of herbs at the same time. Rose petal and lavender too. Full-bodied, round and velvety structured. Dark fruit and flowers, plus intensity. So much excitement here. 94 points

2007

Writing in February 2009 just after bottling the wine, Francisco Baettig described the 2007 Viñedo Chadwick as ‘a great, dense mouth-filling wine that promises to age very well’. However, it had not been an easy growing season, by any means. The winter had been exceptionally dry and vineyard fertility was low. Spring rain in late October affected flowering and led to small-size clusters and berries, predicting low yields. In summer, hot weather during the first two weeks of March, saw temperatures of 32.5°C (90.5°F) in Maipo, suggesting an early harvest. But then a sharp drop in temperatures later that month was followed by a cool April. In the end, the low yields and long ripening period provided Cabernet Sauvignon grapes of great aromatic intensity, outstanding fruit concentration, and complexity.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Right from the start, the critics have loved this wine and acknowledged its class and pedigree with some outstandingly complimentary notes and scores.

Jay Miller in The Wine Advocate described it as A glass-coating opaque purple color, it offers up a brooding bouquet of sandalwood, pencil lead, scorched earth, violets, exotic spices, black currant, and blackberry ... full-bodied and dense on the palate, this is an opulent effort with layers of multi-dimensional flavors, plenty of ripe tannin, with all components in harmony. This lengthy effort will see its thirtieth birthday in fine form. Underlining the note was another 97-point score from Miller.

US writer Natalie Maclean was simply bowled over by the 2007 Spectacular: words fail ... Gorgeous depths of black fruit, dried tobacco and herbs, violets and inexplicable happiness. Full-bodied with voluptuous layers of liquid velvet to caress and please the palate. This is a lifetime experience not to miss. 98 points

Tasting the wine in October 2017, James Suckling comments Wow. Full body, with wonderful, melted tannins that flow into the wine. Complex and beautiful. 97 points

2006

‘Without doubt, this was a complex vintage, which sorely tested our patience,’ says Eduardo Chadwick. Variable temperatures in 2006 meant that the vineyard experienced a ten-day delay in the vines’ phenological development, which, in turn, led to a slower ripening process. But the grapes did eventually ripen and were picked in perfect condition at the end of the season in late April with firm, healthy skins. As a result, the team was able to craft and sculpt another spectacular 100% Cabernet, bottling the wine in early 2008.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Leading wine critics from the UK to South America have all endorsed the wine.

James Molesworth of Wine Spectator. In his initial review in 2009, he described it as A big, dense wine, especially for the vintage, with an impressive core of loam, melted black licorice and macerated currant fruit supported by ripe, well-embedded tannins and a long, polished finish that drips with fruit and minerality. 93 points

Jay Miller of The Wine Advocate was even more enthusiastic and complimentary, comparing it to one of the most historic wines in Bordeaux The deep crimson-colored 2006 Viñedo Chadwick is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee aged for eighteen months in new French oak. It offers up an ethereal bouquet of toasty oak, scorched earth, incense, spice box, black currant and blackberry reminiscent of a great vintage of Château Palmer (think 1961, 1966, 1970). On the palate it is silky, elegant, concentrated and already complex. With superb depth and grip, this succulent, plush effort will evolve for at least ten to fifteen years and offer prime-time drinking from 2020 to 2046. 97 points

Proof positive that the 2006 has aged and developed supremely well comes from Patricio Tapia, writing in Decanter in late 2017 An unusual year with wide temperature variations between the key months of vine development, which meant that it wasn’t until the end of April that all the components were in place. But the wait was worth it, producing a bright Cabernet with no over ripeness, full of red fruits and supported by a vibrant acidity and tense tannins. Give it time in the glass and see how the fruit acquires an earthy side as the wine gains in complexity. 96 points

2005

The temperatures during the spring were slightly cooler than usual. Then, from December onwards, they were closer to normal. Flowering, fruit set, and veraison all took place on average one week later than in the previous year. Happily, some spring rains in November and another 30mm during the ripening period meant that no irrigation was necessary during the entire growing season. For the first time at Viñedo Chadwick, the team was also able to follow the progress of the grapes’ maturation through aerial photographs. ‘This helped us to identify homogeneous lots and to differentiate when to pick the different blocks,’ adds Baettig.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Admirers of this vintage include Jay Miller as his 2008 Wine Advocate tasting note attests The 2005 Viñedo Chadwick offers up a spectacular bouquet of pain-grillé, mineral, spice box, leather, black currants, and blackberry ... Elegant on the palate with layers of savory flavors, the wine beautifully conceals enough tannin to evolve for a decade. However, because of the wine’s great balance, superb concentration, and succulence, it can actually be enjoyed now. Its prime drinking period will be from 2015 to 2030. 95 points

The following year, Jancis Robinson MW tasted it for JancisRobinson.com Pure, very ripe … and very rich indeed – lovely layers of opulence. Very well made. 17.5 out of 20, one of her highest scores to date.

It should also be noted that the 2005 was a particular personal favourite of Steven Spurrier who had bought a case and kept it in his Dorset cellar. Moreover, it did perform well in a number of the blind tastings conducted by Eduardo Chadwick and Steven. In particular, it was highly ranked in Stockholm, London, Beijing, Copenhagen and Amsterdam.

2004

The 2004 vintage at Viñedo Chadwick was significantly more challenging than its predecessor. The heat summation was higher than the historic average and the mean maximum temperatures in March rose from their normal level of 28°C (82°F) to approximately 29–30°C (84–86°F), speeding up the pace of ripening. Fortunately, the vines were able to naturally adapt to these conditions.

A specific problem was how to cope with variable ripening on each side of the vines’ canopy caused by the hot weather. In particular, the fruit on the side exposed to the afternoon sun began to ripen much more quickly than on the morning side. The team’s clever solution was to begin picking the ‘afternoon side’ of the first plot in April. They then picked the ‘morning side’ a full week later. This enabled them to avoid harvesting both overripe and green, underripe fruit.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

In the June 2007 issue of The Wine Advocate, Jay Miller reviewed the wine The 2004 Viñedo Chadwick is a sturdier wine than the 2003 made in a similar style ... It is more densely colored, has more depth of flavor and additional structure. It could easily pass for a classified growth Pauillac in a blind tasting. 93 points, his highest score to date. High praise indeed.

A decade later, Patricio Tapia tasted it for Decanter This is a Cabernet with vibrant red fruits and notes of mint, leather and spices. The texture is silky, delicate even, but with enough grip to make it a great match for game. 95 points

In 2022, the wine was still in great shape with plenty of ageing potential still to come, according to Joaquin Hidalgo. The wine has a ripe nose of jam and black currant with hints of herbs and liqueur. In the mouth it’s medium bodied but concentrated with finely grained, and slightly grippy, tannins, while the vintage ensures plenty of energy. 93 points, Hidalgo gave it a drinking window to 2034.

2003

Overall, this was another warm vintage that provided a perfect balance between the vines’ natural vigour and fruit load. Good winter precipitation of 480mm together with a cool spring provided the ideal platform for the growing season. No irrigation was required during flowering, fruit set or the first stage of grape development, all of which favoured the production of small, uniform berries – a common feature in years that produce high concentration and quality. Temperatures rose from late January to April to ensure plant health, fruit concentration and phenolic maturity.

The final wine was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and reflected the conditions of the season, highlighting ripeness, robustness and concentration. It was and remains a wine with a distinctive personality that has evolved gracefully over time.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

One of the early reviews of the 2003 came from Michael Schachner for Wine Enthusiast in 2006 The Chadwicks have hit the big time with this superb Cabernet ... The bouquet of black cherry, charcoal, plum and tree bark is sensational, while the cassis, cherry and tobacco flavors sing on the palate. Lots of fruit, power and balance. 93 points

Since then, the wine has only improved as it has acquired bottle age, as noted by James Suckling in 2016 A very polished and refined wine with fine grain tannins that give form and finesse to the wine. Medium to full body, dense yet compact palate. Beautiful core of fruit in the center palate. Long finish. Drink or hold. 96 points

More recently, in 2022, Joaquin Hidalgo described A nose of ripe fruit, figs and hints of herb. On the palate, the warm balance comes to the fore, maintaining the rich, luxurious power even today. 92 points, Hidalgo gave it a drinking window up to 2030.

2002

The 2001–02 growing season started out well with a mild spring, moving into warmer temperatures and dry weather from December to February. Southern regions of Chile’s Central Valley saw unusual rainfall in 2002 in March and April. Fortunately, conditions in the Alto Maipo fared significantly better with less rain and a higher average heat summation. The team’s close monitoring of the Cabernet Sauvignon vines also allowed it to pick at optimum ripeness after an extended harvest.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

In 2005, Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth clearly liked the 2002 This is a big, brawny tower of Cabernet power, with dark currant, loam and coffee flavors that are powerful, yet lush and well-integrated. Then the fruit opens up on the finish to reveal even more depth. Impressive length and focus too. 92 points

Since then the wine has aged and matured to great effect and is still drinking well. In May 2017, James Suckling revisited it for his eponymous website Lots of wet earth, leather and sweet tobacco. Full body and a juicy finish, he wrote. Cooler year. Holding on. 92 points

Five years later, in 2022, Vinous.com’s South American critic, Joaquin Hidalgo, published his notes from a complete vertical of Viñedo Chadwick including this vintage. At twenty years of age, he described the 2002 as having A dark, garnet hue. A distinctive, herbal nose of gentle pyrazine flavors, tobacco and clear, fruity black currant notes. In the mouth it has refined, smooth tannins that made Maipo famous. A fairly compact flow sustains the flavors into vivid balsamic finish. 93 points, Hidalgo gave it a drinking window for another decade, up to 2032.

2001

A rainy winter and a cool start to spring meant a slow start to the 2001 vintage in Puente Alto. Temperature fluctuations in November affected flowering and caused significant coulure (shot berries), which resulted in naturally lower yields. Things warmed up in early January, although intermittent cool spells slowed the veraison process (onset of berry ripening). Fine weather returned in March with three weeks of ideal conditions (warm days and cool nights), allowing the crop to ripen evenly. However, green harvesting and leaf pulling were also required to help the grapes achieve full ripeness. The harvest took place in April and the mature, healthy grapes were picked in perfect conditions.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

From the very beginning, it was clear that the wine showed enormous complexity and promise. This has been born out in several critics’ notes and scores.

One of the first to review it was James Molesworth in Wine Spectator in 2004 This is a powerhouse, with a wall of raspberry ganache, black currant and cocoa flavors that don’t quit, thanks to the iron-clad tannins and dense loamy notes. A Cabernet Sauvignon for the cellar. 94 points

Of course, the mark of a truly great wine is to improve with age. And this is certainly the case with the 2001 Viñedo Chadwick. Patricio Tapia tasted it in 2017 for Decanter and was profoundly impressed Low yields and moderate temperatures have allowed the expression of place to be displayed with special clarity. The red fruits are intertwined with spicy flavours within a body of great vigour and tension, with a menthol finish that adds complexity. This 2001 is defined by its balance and fruity exuberance, but also by its firm structure, designed to last in bottle. 94 points

James Suckling also tasted it the same year for JamesSuckling.com and was overcome by its pedigree and class This is an incredible wine with super depth, richness and freshness ... Full body, great tannins and remarkable beauty and clarity. It goes on for minutes. Shows the pedigree and greatness of this vineyard. Suckling awarded it a near perfect 99 points

2000

After a wet winter, the growing season of 2000 started with a cool spring, with temperatures rising slightly as the weeks progressed. Fine weather during flowering helped with an even and homogeneous fruit set. However, methodical cluster thinning did become necessary to limit yields and pave the way for a successful vintage. Temperatures were slightly below average during the summer, delaying the crop’s development and contributing to a late harvest. Fortunately, the slow ripening allowed the grapes to develop a complex flavour profile, together with balanced acidity and potential alcohol level.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

Of course, the epoch-making 2000 Viñedo Chadwick is rightly famous for coming top in the famous blind ‘Berlin Tasting’ of 2004. However, it is worth pointing out that it performed extremely well in other city tastings organized and hosted by Eduardo Chadwick. In particular, it also came second in Sao Paulo in 2005 and third in Tokyo in 2006.

Tasted by many of the world’s leading critics over the last twenty years, one of its early advocates was Michael Schachner at Wine Enthusiast, in 2004 he reviewed Intense and dense, with campfire to the nose along with black fruit and tar. The palate is equally dark, with flavors of charcoal-studded cassis and plum ... Bitter chocolate and espresso are what defines the powerful finish.

In 2015, Jeannie Cho Lee MW wrote on www.jeanniecholee.com A beautiful expression of Cabernet fruit – layers of cassis, cedar and tobacco with supple tannins … tightly knit and a bit reserved, but opens up with time in the glass. 94 points

The following year in Decanter, Steven Spurrier attested to its quality and longevity Still a wonderful nose with hints of rose petal and seductively aromatic ... Extraordinary warmth and depth from just eight-year-old vines, almost ‘southern’ richness with the spice but the firmness of Cabernet quite evident. Significantly, Steven also included the 2000 Viñedo Chadwick at a special Decanter Masterclass in 2018 titled ‘Steven Spurrier’s Most Memorable Wines of All Time’.

Now well into its third decade, the wine continues to delight and impress. In November 2022, John Stimpfig tasted it for Club Oenologique The 2000 Viñedo Chadwick speaks of its era with a palate that is sweet and full, with leather, kirsch and dark chocolate on an intense nose of coffee grinds, black cherry and truffle alongside earthy sous-bois. The ample, melting tannins are fleshy, generous and round giving a feeling and texture of richness, heft and power. 95 points

1999

The inaugural Viñedo Chadwick came from a warm vintage with dramatically reduced yields that produced a deep, concentrated and well-structured wine for the long haul, despite its young vines.

The preceding winter was dry and mild and was followed by a warm spring and summer. Temperatures cooled in the fall and the harvest was marked by dramatically reduced yields, particularly in comparison to the large crop of 1998. Crucially, the low yields contributed to the remarkably high quality of the vintage as the vines were able to concentrate their energy on the smaller production. As a result of the warm weather and the low yields, the grapes achieved good sugar levels and ripe tannins in early April and were harvested two weeks earlier than normal.

Unusually, the 1999 was a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon 6% Carmenere. The wine then spent eighteen months in 100% new French oak barriques and was bottled in February 2001.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

This ambitious, new Alto Maipo single-vineyard wine immediately found favour with global critics – and nearly a quarter of a century on – it continues to do so.

In the 2003 September issue of Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth reported that This refined red offers taut mineral, loam, cassis and hot-stone notes, with plenty of grip as well. Additional flavors of toast, vanilla and tar provide a steady bass line, and the finish shows power and balance. Impressive now, but this really needs to stretch out a bit in the cellar. 94 points

UK critic Tom Cannavan on his wine-pages.com was just as enthused when he tasted it the following year. On the palate there is a mass of mouth-filling cherry and raspberry fruit, with depths of plummier concentration filling out the mid-palate, a real rasp of acidity, but polished, ripe tannins creating a warming, expansive finish. 94 points

More recently, the South American wine writer, Patricio Tapia, confirmed the 1999’s longevity and quality. He revisited it for a vertical tasting of Viñedo Chadwick for Decanter in late 2017

The low yields and a summer of high temperatures gave extra ripe flavors and great concentration ... Almost two decades later, it still feels tense, with a firm structure and acidity refreshing the flavors in a brilliant way. 94 points

Viñedo Chadwick was off to a flying start.