Errázuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2019 (Chile) - Wine Review

To celebrate National Wine Day, tonight's wine review is the latest vintage of this lovely Pinot Noir from Chile. This red wine is a perennial visitor to VINTAGES and arrived in Ontario as part of the most recent LCBO VINTAGES Release on May 15th.

It is produced by Viña Errázuriz, one of Chile's best and most internationally recognized wineries. Don Maximiano Errázuriz founded the winery in 1870 with a great vision. His innovative and pioneering spirit led him to plant the first French grape varieties in the Aconcagua Valley. Future generations of the family continued his innovative and creative spirit, and his descendants positioned the wines of Viña Errázuriz among the world's most noteworthy. Today, Viña Errázuriz is led by President Eduardo Chadwick Claro and Winemaker Francisco Baettig Hidalgo.

This particular Pinot Noir is from Viña Errázuriz's "Specialties" range of wines, where they explore the Aconcagua Valley for the best and purest expression of each variety through wines that show their true sense of origin. The two geographical landmarks make up this line of wines are Mount Aconcagua - the highest peak in the western hemisphere, and the Pacific Ocean which has the coldest waters in the world. Aconcagua Alto (Mount Aconcagua) wines are from the highest area of the Aconcagua Valley, while wines from Aconcagua Costa are located in vineyards just 12 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean.

I've had the pleasure of tasting previous vintages of this Pinot Noir and it's always been a delight. The grapes for this vintage were sourced from vines planted in 2005 and 2009 in the coastal vineyard of Aconcagua Costa. The soil in this vineyard is composed of a thin layer of loamy texture that sits above a base of clay and metamorphic rock (slate/schist) that adds mineral notes to the wines.

In 2019, Aconcagua Costa experienced a slightly warmer than normal growing season due to higher temperatures in the Spring, but this was balanced by slightly cooler than normal temperatures in February and March, allowing for a slow and gentle ripening process. Overall, the result was outstanding, healthy fruit. The grapes were hand-harvested and fermented using native yeasts, then aged for 13 months in French oak barrels, only 15% new. Let's see how this delicious Chilean Pinot Noir is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

ERRÁZURIZ ACONCAGUA COSTA PINOT NOIR 2019 - DO Aconcagua Costa, Chile (#541151) (XD) - $24.95
The slightly reductive, delicate nose offers lovely dark cherry, raspberry, and smoky earth aromas with subtle spice tones. The black cherry notes continue on the mid-weighted and structured palate with spicy, smoky earth flavours and touches of floral adding further interest. It has fresh, balanced acidity, while the structured tannins have a medium-firm grippy texture. Smoky, earthy, mineral-laced finish, with excellent length. Enjoyable now, but will really blossom in 3-4 years. Score: 91+ pts

Other fine wines from Viña Errázuriz can be found at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Dandurand.