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 fine tannins, and despite the grape, it is 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 fine-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 finest vintage for Chadwick; the wine made my heart beat faster—it's a wine of emotion. This is also my first 100-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 focus, balance and precision of Viñedo Chadwick 2021 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.

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 longlasting, complex wine. A Bordeaux-inspired red that enjoyed the very Bordelaise weather in the region this year.

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.