Following on from the spectacular 2021 vintage was always going to be hard, but remarkable things do come in pairs. 2022 Viñedo Chadwick is a masterpiece. Accolades are endless for this sensational 2022. Wine Advocate call it a ‘work of art’ and awarding a dazzling 98 points. Vinous also award 98 points, noting its superiority, “Among Chile's iconic wines, Viñedo Chadwick has carved out a unique place for elegance and intensity, and this vintage is a stunning example…a finessed Bordeaux-oriented red with the plush tannins of Maipo…Beautiful.”. Both top critics further endorse its prowess by marking it the ‘highest scored Chilean wine of 2022’.  The only downside to this...it is made in minuscule quantities, making it a true collector's gem.  

• Crafted from a tiny 15-hectare plateau just on the outskirts of Santiago, Viñedo Chadwick has been referred to as the ‘Haut Brion’ of Chile. The D.O of Puente Alto has proved itself as one of the world’s most important sites for growing Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard is on a high (650m) flat terrace at the foot of the mighty Andes, and only 4km away from the River Maipo. Within this natural amphitheatre the 2022 vintage experienced textbook growing conditions; a warm spring and a long cool summer gave the grapes perfect hang time. Refreshing breezes from the Andes and cool nights, locked in the kaleidoscopic aromatics, freshness and acidity into the small berries and gave an exceptional harvest. 

• Eduardo’s father's polo field uncovered the most prized vineyard secret, ensuring Viñedo Chadwick is distinctly different to surrounding estates. The location and composition of this superior terroir mean the team consistently pick earlier than that of their closest competition. The shallow gravel topsoil’s, lead into 80cm of clay loam, which perfectly retains moisture and humidity helping the vines to thrive in this very dry year. Below this the magic happens, glacial & alluvial soils contain large round stones from an ancient riverbed, enabling the best drainage & imparting the most complex of flavours; fine grained chalky tannins lace through the 2022 giving a fine impressive structure, a beautifully elegant graphite minerality gives distinguished complexity to the beguiling, concentrated dark red & black fruit. It is a wine of majesty and power, winemaker Francisco Baettig says, ‘will get even better with age.’  

• 2022 will be Baettig’s swansong, a triumphant last vintage and one that encapsulates his meticulous dedication and micromanagement of the vineyard. All carried out vine by vine, row by row, all by hand in tune with nature, the 28-year-old vines maturing to perfection. Each plot is vinified separately, oak aging tempered to 18 months, the use of some open foudres and the addition of 4% of Petit Verdot in 2022 has added an abundance of floral aromatics and spellbinding perfume, as Baettig said, 'it adds a sparkle’. This ensures the final blend shows off its Bordeaux roots, yet its Chilean DNA encapsulates the authentic style of Viñedo Chadwick at its best, which for Baettig says are, ‘elegance, depth and concentration of fruit, and finesse of tannins. I love 2022 it has huge potential and was overshadowed by 2021’ Given this captivating style for those looking for a Bordeaux comparison Tim Atkin notes, 2022 is ‘More Margaux than Pauillac.’ This is clearly an incredibly special vintage of Viñedo Chadwick and one that deserves to be in any great wine collection.

Since 2004, Vinedo Chadwick has always been in high demand, having proved itself against the best wines of Bordeaux in ‘The Berlin Tasting’ - on January 23rd, 2004, inspired by the Judgment of Paris, Eduardo Chadwick and Steven Spurrier invited Europe’s most highly regarded wine experts to take part in a historic blind tasting in Berlin. The challenge was to show that Viñedo Chadwick and other super-premium Chilean wines, including Sena and Don Maximiano could hold their own against the most prestigious wines of the world, and they certainly did - 2000 Vinedo Chadwick placed first, above the 2000 Chateau Lafite, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Latour!. At £250 a bottle in bond, Vinedo Chadwick is, of course, considerably less expensive than Bordeaux's first growths.

N.B. This wine is not currently in stock but can be ordered, usually for delivery within a few weeks -  please email info@cellarselect.co.uk for availability and lead time, or it will be confirmed after an order is placed.