Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve - Viña Errazuriz

A luminous ruby red with deeply dark reflections radiates in the glass and heralds the grand entrance of Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve - Viña Errazuriz. The dense color immediately draws focus to concentration and depth. Even with the first swirl, a multi-layered cloud of aromas rises, leaving no doubt about its noble origin from the Aconcagua Valley in Chile.

On the nose, an intense bouquet of ripe blackcurrant and dark blackberry unfolds. Juicy blueberry adds a fine, cool accent. Notes of fine coffee and dark chocolate, derived from maturation in French oak, come to the fore. A hint of tobacco, delicate roasted notes, some cedarwood and a touch of graphite recall great Bordeaux role models. Subtle nuances of dried plum, bay leaf, black pepper and a hint of violet round off the aroma.

On the palate, Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve - Viña Errazuriz reveals an impressively dense texture. The cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Petit Verdot shows power and elegance at the same time. Ripe black berries fill the mouth, underpinned by fine spice, cocoa, mocha and a hint of licorice. The tannins present themselves as silky yet structured, with firm but ripe grip. The acidity appears precise and carries the fruit with clear freshness.

The body appears full and forceful without any heaviness. The structure remains precise, and the balance of fruit, oak and spice feels harmonious. The very long finish once again brings forth blackcurrant, blackberry and dark chocolate. In addition, tobacco leaves, a touch of smoke, a hint of vanilla and a fine mineral impression emerge, reminiscent of crushed stone over granite and sand.

The style appears modern, international, and yet clearly rooted in Chilean terroir. The proximity of the Aconcagua Valley to the Andes brings cool nights and sunny days, which promotes aromatic depth and structure. Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine backbone, dark fruit and a clear line. Carmenère adds spicy richness and a dark, velvety note. Malbec contributes juiciness and lush berry aromas, while Petit Verdot provides color, tannic bite and floral accents.

Typical aromas of this red wine reveal themselves in a multi-layered range:

• Dark fruits such as blackcurrant, blackberry and blueberry
• Notes of coffee, mocha and dark chocolate from the oak
• Tobacco, cedarwood and fine roasted spice
• Subtle herbal hints, bay leaf and black pepper
• A touch of violet and graphite in the background

Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve - Viña Errazuriz presents itself as a red wine for connoisseurs who appreciate depth, finesse and development in the glass. The award-winning quality with high ratings from renowned critics underlines the ambition of this Chilean icon.

For wine lovers, this wine offers particular strengths that express its character impressively:

1. Intense, multi-layered aromas with clear dark fruit and fine spice
2. Dense, silkily structured tannins and impressive length
3. Perfect balance of freshness, power and elegance in an international style

Its origin from the Aconcagua Valley, with its soils of granite and sand, shapes the character noticeably. Granite brings structure and precise definition, sand lends the wine a certain finesse and elegance. The result is a stylish interpretation of a Chilean Bordeaux style that shines by the fireside or as a highlight at sophisticated red wine gatherings.

Production of Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve by Viña Errazuriz

The grapes come from selected sites in the Aconcagua Valley in Chile. The climate offers warm, sunny days and cool nights due to the influence of the Andes. This temperature range promotes aromatic depth and ripe tannins. The mix of granite and sand in the soil ensures good drainage and limited yields, which increases grape concentration.

Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the cuvée and provides structure, cassis fruit and aging potential. Carmenère contributes dark spice, a soft texture and a deep component reminiscent of bell pepper and herbs, which, however, appears ripe and never dominant. Malbec supplies juicy dark berries and fullness on the palate. Petit Verdot brings intense color, dense tannins and a fine floral touch.

Harvesting is done selectively to bring only ripe and aromatic grapes into the cellar. Individual plots and grape varieties are processed separately. The berries undergo strict sorting before they enter the fermentation vessels. The constant goal is to preserve freshness and to obtain pure, clear fruit aromas.

The must is macerated under controlled conditions to gently extract color, tannins and aromas. Regular pump-overs or gentle punching down of the cap ensure a fine tannin structure. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks so that fruit and terroir remain in the foreground.

After fermentation, the wine is matured in small French oak barrels. Over 22 months, the wine ages in carefully selected barriques. A proportion of new barrels contributes notes of vanilla, toast, coffee and cocoa. Used barrels preserve the fruit and add subtle roasted tones. Aging on the fine lees brings additional creaminess and complexity.

The cellar style of Viña Errazuriz aims for precision, elegance and longevity. The use of barriques strengthens structure and depth without overpowering the fruit. Before bottling, the assemblage of the grape varieties takes place. This is where the fine balance between structure, fruit, spice and finesse is created. After bottling, the wine rests in the bottle for additional time before being released to the market.

Serving recommendations for Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve by Viña Errazuriz

This impressive red wine is ideal with dark dishes and intense meat courses. It reveals its full class alongside a juicy roast beef fillet with an herb crust. A braised lamb rump with rosemary, thyme and root vegetables also pairs excellently. Game dishes such as saddle of venison or venison ragout likewise harmonize with the dark fruit and spicy oak notes.

The wine accompanies braised dishes like ossobuco, braised beef cheeks or slow-cooked pot roast very well. Side dishes such as polenta, potato gratin or creamy celeriac purée are recommended. Aged hard cheeses, such as mature Comté, Manchego or an intense Cheddar, make for a noble finale to a menu with this wine.

For a typical evening with Chilean cuisine, the wine goes well with grilled beef, chorizo, spicy meat skewers and strongly seasoned stews. By the fireside, it accompanies dark chocolate with a high cocoa content or a selection of powerful cheeses. As a gift for discerning red wine lovers, it leaves a lasting impression.

The ideal serving temperature lies between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius. Within this range, the wine shows its complex aromatics and preserves its elegant structure. A carafe or decanter brings additional air to the wine and further releases its aromas. Younger vintages in particular unfold greater depth and refinement after one to two hours of aeration.

Served in a large red wine glass, the wine shows its dense texture and the play of aromas at their best. The bowl-shaped glass concentrates the diversity of aromas of dark fruit, chocolate, coffee and tobacco. The aging potential extends over many years from the vintage, allowing the wine to mature further in the cellar and to develop additional maturity and spice notes. This makes it suitable both for immediate enjoyment and as a noble companion for special occasions in the future.

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