Kai Carmenere
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed 5 to 15 years from the vintage release, though top vintages can cellar gracefully for up to 20 years.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Roasted lamb chops, grilled ribeye steak, slow-cooked wild boar ragu
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Errazuriz's Kai Carmenere is widely regarded as one of the ultimate expressions of Chile's signature grape variety. First released with the 2005 vintage, Kai made history by showcasing the world-class potential of Carmenere, a grape once thought extinct in Europe and rediscovered in Chile. The name 'Kai' translates to 'plant' or 'tree' in the native Mapudungun language of the Mapuche people, paying homage to the deep roots of Chilean terroir. Sourced primarily from the Max V vineyard in the heart of the Aconcagua Valley, the vines benefit from a Mediterranean climate where hot days are tempered by cooling morning mists and evening breezes from the Pacific Ocean. This unique microclimate allows the notoriously late-ripening Carmenere to achieve perfect phenolic ripeness while retaining its vibrant acidity. Hand-harvested and aged for up to 20 months in French oak barrels, Kai is celebrated for its deep purple hue, velvety texture, and complex layers of black fruit, roasted coffee, and subtle spicy undertones.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Founded in 1870 by Don Maximiano Errázuriz, Viña Errázuriz is a historic Chilean winery located in the heart of the Aconcagua Valley. Under the visionary leadership of descendant Eduardo Chadwick, the estate has pioneered the exploration of the valley's diverse microclimates, from the warm interior plains to the cool, ocean-influenced coastal zones. Errázuriz is globally renowned for its philosophy of crafting elegant, terroir-driven wines that showcase purity and structure, particularly through its iconic Bordeaux-style blend, Don Maximiano Founder's Reserve, and the acclaimed Kai Carmenere. This commitment to excellence has cemented the estate's reputation as a premier benchmark for high-quality Chilean winemaking on the international stage.