Don Maximiano Founders Reserve
⏳ Drinking Window
2022 - 2035
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted rack of lamb, prime rib-eye steak, or slow-cooked venison stew.
✨ Technical Specifications
Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve is the flagship cuvée of Viña Errázuriz, named in honor of Don Maximiano Errázuriz, who founded the estate in 1870. Don Maximiano famously declared, 'From the best land, the best wine,' a philosophy embodied in this iconic Bordeaux-style blend. Sourced primarily from the historic Max vineyards in the mid-section of the Aconcagua Valley, the vines thrive on colluvial soils with high stone content, which provides excellent drainage and imparts a distinct mineral tension. The climate here features hot, dry days tempered by cooling breezes from the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, allowing the grapes to achieve optimal ripeness while preserving vibrant acidity. Traditionally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the blend is artfully completed with Carmenere, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, then aged for up to 22 months in French oak barrels. This produces a wine of immense structure, complexity, and elegance, marked by deep black fruit, graphite, and sweet spice notes.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errázuriz, Viña Errázuriz stands as one of Chile's most prestigious and historic wine estates, situated in the premier terroir of the Aconcagua Valley. Under the visionary stewardship of Eduardo Chadwick, the family-owned winery played a transformative role in demonstrating Chile's world-class winemaking pedigree to the international community, epitomized by the historic 2004 Berlin Tasting. Combining state-of-the-art sustainable viticulture with a deep reverence for the valley's distinct Andean and coastal microclimates, the estate is dedicated to crafting wines of exceptional elegance, structure, and aging potential. Errázuriz is renowned globally for its flagship icon cuvées, including Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve, Kai Carmenère, and La Cumbre Syrah, alongside its expressive Max Reserva line.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon (typically 65-75%), blended with varying proportions of Carmenere, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Syrah.
🍷 Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
13.5-14.5%