The Berlin Tasting

In 2004, Eduardo Chadwick organized a blind tasting among elite wine professionals known today as “The Berlin Tasting”. The purpose was to prove that fine wine from Chile could stand up against the world’s most prestigious wines. They were showcased in flights alongside first growth Bordeaux wines and famed SuperTuscans of Italy. Eduardo’s ambition paid off when the results proved more than the Chadwick family initially anticipated. The Viñedo Chadwick 2000 took the number one placement, and Seña 2001 took second above the world’s most prized wines - a pivotal moment that turned out to be the catalyst of global appreciation for the fine wines of Chile.

The Berlin Tasting 20th Anniversary Celebration

The 20th Anniversary Celebration of The Berlin Tasting at the Ritz-Carlton in Toronto with Eduardo Chadwick was an honour to attend. A second-to-none tasting experience as attendees were enthralled with the passion and emotion Eduardo had for not just his family’s legacy, but one of his country’s. His story, like the wines, were a heartwarming inspiration. Our tasting showcased high-quality, age-worthy wines through decades of excellence. Of the 11 wines presented, they collectively embodied precision, cohesiveness, and beauty.

The Wines

Errazuriz Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 1987, 2011, and 2021

Kai 2011 & 2021

Seña 1998, 2011, 2021

 Viñedo Chadwick 2000, 2014, & 2021

Unwaivering Determination

In 2016, twelve years after The Berlin Tasting opened the world’s eyes to Chilean fine wine, Vinedo Chadwick earned a 100pt. score from James Suckling for the 2014 vintage, the first perfect score given to a Chilean wine.

“The 100pts is like an invitation to the party, but getting the invite doesn’t mean you’re going to succeed. The scoring creates recognition to be amongst the fine wines of the world. The next challenge is to be able to reach out to the right consumer and to develop the story telling,” explains Eduardo. “If you want to create a great wine from a region that’s unknown, it’s a long-term project. First, you are dealing with the image of the region, and then the image of the wine. What you need is persistence, long-term perspective, and passion. There are many challenges in winemaking in Chile: earthquakes, fires, droughts, frosts, etc., so you need that persistence and passion to keep moving forward in the fine wine industry.”

The Seña vineyard is found in Ocoa within the Aconcagua Valley, Chile planted atop volcanic soils with excellent drainage, a major factor in why this land was chosen to pursue this partnership between the two ambitious winemakers. “[The partnership] accelerated our opportunity to learn how to elevate Chilean wine,” says Chadwick.

Within the vineyard, plantings consist of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Since its’ debut, Seña has been awarded 100pts by James Suckling for three different vintages: 2015, 2018, 2021.

15 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon are now planted on the family’s estate in the heart of Puente Alto D.O. on what used to be Don Alfonso’s polo field where he would play every single day. As one of Chile’s best polo players in history, it seems there is more to these special grounds than just the supreme alluvial-gravel soils at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, but also an elemental essence that brought Don Alfonso’s passions of both polo and wine to greatness.

“From day one, Viñedo Chadwick has been terroir driven. We ask ourselves, what is the best expression of our terroir? Viñedo Chadwick was originally made with a little Carmenere and when it didn’t ripen enough to be part of the blend we uprooted it and planted Petit Verdot so today the wine is 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. We aim for extreme finesse and balance. It’s our own interpretation of what best expresses our terroir.” claims Chadwick.

To date, Viñedo Chadwick has gained several 100pt scorings across vintages and critics since it spurred Chile’s fine-wine scene at The Berlin Tasting in 2004.

Seña 2021

Hailing from the Aconcagua Valley, this wine is a complimentary cuvee that includes 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Malbec, 17% Carmenere and 6% Petit Verdot that is aged for 22 months predominately in French oak barrels. It romances with enthusiastic aromas of roses, raspberries, and blackberry upon entry to a rich, yet refined palate of velvety tannins and a heart of freshness. Bright red berry fruits lay parallel to savoury, cooked mushroom notes that continue on a forever finish. A wine surely enjoyable now but has proven to age beyond 25 years of cellaring.

Viñedo Chadwick 2021

This 2021 vintage is comprised of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot aged for 22 months, 80% in new French oak. An abundance of complex aromas fly from the glass like fireworks - graphite, cherry, and purple flowers. The palate divulges cohesive, exciting flavours including blackberry and blueberry that bloom in to earth and more concentrated fruit. Complex, bright and pure, with a finessed structural support. Perfectly balanced, with a pensive, fantastically long finish.

Recent and back vintages of Seña and Viñedo Chadwick will be coming soon to the LCBO.

Sponsored but as always, thoughts are my own.