ERRAZURIZ | KAI | Carmenere | 2019
carmenère | syrah

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Founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errázuriz in the Aconcagua Valley, Viña Errázuriz has built a legacy on its pioneering spirit and an unwavering commitment to quality. Don Maximiano chose the Aconcagua Valley, 100km north of Santiago, a region now renowned globally for its fine wines, benefiting from the cool breezes that sweep in from the Pacific Ocean. His legacy continues through Eduardo Chadwick – a tireless advocate for chilean wine, who upholds a strong commitment to sustainable development. The name ‘KAI’ means ‘plant’ in the language of the native Mapuche people, and symbolizes the deep connection to the land and the authentic expression of Carmenere variety – Chile’s emblematic grape.
The wine we are going to review today hardly requires any introduction, as it is one of Chile‘s most iconic wines – a true legend that is considered among the world’s best wines – KAI Carmenere 2019 by Viña Errázuriz. Carménère is one of the world’s phoenix grapes – a historic Bordeaux variety that found its new home in Chile, where it has become the country’s flagship red grape. Carménère is a natural offspring of Cabernet Franc and Gros Cabernet, once widely planted in Bordeaux but was almost wiped out by the phylloxera epidemic and largely forgotten in Europe. Unknown to the wine world however, carmenère had been brought to Chile, where it was mistakenly cultivated as Merlot for more than a century until its true identity was rediscovered in 1994 by french ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot.

Carménère is a late-ripening grape variety that requires a long and sunny growing season to achieve full maturity, as it can struggle to ripen in all but the warmest sites, making Chile’s sunny valleys an ideal environment. If harvested too early, it may result in wines with a pungent herbaceous character and bitter, unripe tannins, but when allowed to ripen fully, it can produce deeply coloured wines with flavours of black fruits, spice, tobacco, and subtle herbal notes, supported by ripe and velvety tannins. The best examples are matured in oak to add complexity and soften the grape’s naturally firm structure. Although Carménère remains a minor variety in its native Bordeaux wine region, Chile has transformed it into an internationally recognised icon, producing wines that combine the richness of Cabernet Sauvignon with the dustiness of Cabernet Franc and the plushness of Merlot, while expressing a distinctive savory personality.Technically this wine is a blend of three two varieties: carmenère (95%) and syrah (5%), where carmenère forms the wine’s main body and structure, lending that unique savory character, while syrah adds more structure, dark fruit notes, and enhances the wine’s color depth. The grapes for this iconic wine were sourced from the estate’s famous MAX V vineyard, located at 60 kilometers inland from the Pacific Ocean. The 2019 vintage was marked by a dry season with a warm start and a cool finish, conditions that fostered excellent concentration and complexity in the grapes. This dynamic climatic profile, coupled with precision irrigation, ensured the ancient vines of MAX V vineyard achieved exceptional balance and concentration, yielding incredibly healthy grapes that resulted in complex and elegant wines with impeccably ripe tannins. In order to soften the tannins and add an extra layer of aromatic sophistication, the wine has been aged for an extensive 22 months in french oak barrels (from which 70% new oak), followed by an additional 18 months of bottle aging before it was deemed ready for the market release.

The Aconcagua Valley, located about 100 km north of Santiago, between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, has a mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, cool winters, and around 250 mm of annual rainfall, moderated by Pacific breezes and diurnal shifts from altitude and oceanic flow. The Vineyards enjoy elevations between 50m on the valley floors and 1000m at the foothills of the Andes, benefiting from river-fed alluvial and granitic-clay soils with rocky, well-drained surfaces that concentrate fruit flavours. This unique terroir is well suited for Bordeaux grape varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, syrah, malbec, carménère, merlot and petit verdot, yielding ripe and concentrated grapes that are perfect for creating well structured and bold wines, while the cooler coastal pockets allow for sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, and pinot noir to express their natural freshness and unmatched elegance.

The ‘MAX V‘ vineyard is situated on an alluvial plain on the southern bank of the Aconcagua River. It is somewhat cooler than usual for the region because of its proximity to the river and minimal, relatively unexposed slope. The soil is deep, with clay to clay-loam texture and a high stone content of up to 80% that provides excellent drainage. The ‘MAX I‘ vineyard, part of our historic Don Maximiano Estate vineyard, is planted on a northeast-facing hillside with a 5°-25° slope. It features weathered intrusive igneous rock (diorite) and coarse alluvium with abundant mica and a sandy-loam texture.

color: deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: hazy & noble ruby shades

In the glass, the wine presents a deep and opaque ruby color, with hazy and noble ruby shades towards the rim – a classic appearance for a top-tier Carménère – suggesting concentration and nuance.

intensity: rich & savory-delicate
fruit character: ripe

On the nose, the wine feels rich and complex, leaning towards a savory and delicate character that is the hallmark of classic old-world Carménère. In the foreground, savory notes of iron, iodine, leather, game, and a hint of barnyard intertwine gracefully with luscious berry fruits like cranberry, blackberry, dark cherry, and black plum, all uplifted by elegant hints of violets. As the aroma evolves, the background reveals earthy undertones of pencil lead, slate, granite, loam, clay, and marl, beautifully complemented by spicy nuances of peppercorn, nutmeg, and cloves. These complex layers are uplifted by rich notes of tobacco and toasted oakwood. This intricate aromatic profile showcases an exceptional interplay of vibrant primary fruit, delicate savory secondary notes, and profound earthy and oak-infused tertiary layers, forming a sophisticated and engaging bouquet that speaks of both varietal purity and local terroir.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: high | balance: fine
finish: lasting | aftertaste: crisp & seedy

On the palate, the wine reveals a remarkably rich yet delicate mouthfeel, unfolding in a multi-layered, savory-rustic character that firmly places it as an old-world styled textbook chilean Carménère, reinforcing Chile’s position as a global benchmark for this varietal. There’s a distinct touch of earthy delicacy that permeates the mouthfeel, adding a layer of subtle complexity. The wine tastes dry, underpinned by a vibrant acidity that maintains freshness and liveliness throughout the tasting experience. A well-integrated touch of alcoholic warmth provides depth and structure without overshadowing the purity of fruit. The tannins are pleasantly-seedy, firm yet velvety, caressing the palate and contributing to a long and persistent finish. The aftertaste is both crisp and seedy, leaving a memorable impression that balances power with finesse, focusing intensely on elegance and delicacy.

maturity: developing | drink now or age it for another 3 to 5 years
verdict: excellent | a reference wine | a wine that can reach into the realm of perfection

Overall, this is a genuine old-world Carménère wine that manages to deliver the vibrancy and nuance of the grape variety alongside the unmistakable footprint of its origin (the famous Aconcagua Valley) – the epitome of a pure-bred, high-altitude Carménère, that masterfully combines the nuance with elegance and finesse. It boasts a nuanced terroir footprint, showcasing that unmistakable chilean dustiness that has become a signature of the Aconcagua Valley‘s iconic wines. The wine is still developing, showing a good ageing potential, therefore it can be cellared for another 3 to 5 years, allowing its intricate layers to further integrate and evolve into an even more harmonious expression. This is, without a doubt, the best Carménère we’ve tasted so far – a true classic and a wine with a rich history behind the label.

Given the wine’s pronounced savory character and vibrant acidity, it requires a dish with equal richness and depth, like for example a slow-cooked venison loin served with a blackberry and rosemary reduction, accompanied by a rich wild mushroom ragout. The gamey notes of the venison will find a harmonious counterpart in the wine’s savory aromas, while the fruit reduction will complement its ripe berry profile. The earthy mushroom ragout will echo the wine’s earthy undertones, creating a sophisticated and deeply satisfying culinary experience that promises that much-desired ‘wow-effect’.  Enjoy!
ERRAZURIZ | KAI | Carmenere | 2019
variety: carmenère | syrah
country: Chile
region: Aconcagua Valley
rating: 96.8

The name KAI holds special significance, meaning ‘plant’ in the language of the Mapuches, one of Chile’s indigenous peoples, reflecting the wine’s deep connection to its roots and the land. Furthermore, 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the pivotal Berlin Tasting, an event orchestrated by Viña Errázuriz owner Eduardo Chadwick. Drawing inspiration from the legendary ‘Judgment of Paris,’ the Berlin Tasting pitted Errázuriz wines against First Growths from Bordeaux and Super Tuscans. The sensational outcome saw two Errázuriz wines claim first and second place, altering the global perception of chilean wine and cementing its status as a world-class producer. The winery’s founder, Don Maximiano Errázuriz, famously declared: ‘From the best land, the best wine’ – a philosophy that has guided the estate for over 150 years, making them one of the reference points of chilean winemaking.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!