The vineyard sits at around 650 metres above sea level, and despite the hot days in the summer, temperatures drop in the evening thanks to the mountain breezes that descend from the Andes. Massal selection has determined the vines, which are all planted on their own rootstocks. ‘We really wanted to maintain the massal material,’ says Chadwick winemaker Francisco Baettig. ‘It means that you get smaller bunches which mean more concentration, especially in combination with the long ripening season that we enjoy here.’

There was a small amount of Carménère in the first vintage in 1999, but it has since been discarded. ‘The quality of the Carménère was just too inconsistent. We planted Merlot and Cabernet Franc but they really weren’t suited to this site,’ says Baettig, ‘We then planted Petit Verdot in 2005 and that has done really well, it helps add some acidity to the blend and a little spice. This terroir we have here is just perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon.’

The vineyard has approximately 50cm of clay loam on the surface with free draining gravel soils beneath. With annual rainfall averaging around 350mm, irrigation is required here, which comes from the Andes, Baettig says. ‘The water we get from the Andes has a high percentage of calcium carbonate, which I believe adds to the flavour profile of the wines.’

I ask him to describe Chadwick’s style: ‘It tends far more towards red fruits with a real intensity and concentration. Polished and rounded tannins are a hallmark; we find here that the tannins are smooth, but in warmer vintages they can get more firm. It is always a wine with tension and purity.’

Many wine lovers will have heard of Chadwick (and its stablemate and sister wine Seña from Aconcagua) through the fabled Berlin tasting of 2004. This saw Chadwick and Seña pitted blind against a host of fine wines from Tuscany, Bordeaux and Napa, including names such as Sassicaia, Lafite, Latour and Opus One. Chadwick finished in first place with Seña claiming second spot. The tastings would be repeated in various cities over the following years with the Chilean wines frequently outperforming the competition. What is one of the most astonishing feats is that the 2000 Chadwick that was entered was just the second incarnation of the wine.

What follows are notes from a complete vertical tasting of every vintage of Chadwick, which was carried out at the property in Puente Alto with winemaker Francisco Baettig. Eduardo Chadwick has stated many times that the aim of Viñedo Chadwick was to honour his father and prove that Chile is capable of producing truly world-class wines. Along with Seña, he has certainly demonstrated this to be the case.