Errázuriz Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Winemaker Francisco Baettig took charge of this wine in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2015 that a new style (consistent with Baettig’s new way of thinking about his wines) began to appear. It was slow work to recover the old style of this wine (a brand that has existed since 1930) that’s now much more focused on fruit and freshness by cutting back on the use of new barrels and harvesting earlier. And in a perfect year such as 2018, that work has crystallized in this new Don Max that’s based on 70% cabernet sauvignon from Errázuriz’s property in Aconcagua, planted in 1978. And that cabernet rich in balsamic notes is transformed here into mints and herbs along with fresh and juicy red fruits. Its very low alcohol content (13.5º) gives it a certain lightness and a sensation of medium body. But don’t be fooled – this is a wine for the cellar. It has enough acidity and tannins to evolve elegantly for a decade. Score – 97. (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2021)