Taking on the big boys

Chilean wine estate Errázuriz shows its mettle by upstaging Old World wines in a blind tasting session.

Seven years ago, the Chilean winery invited Europe’s wine journalists and buyers to a blind tasting in Berlin, featuring wines from Italy, France and Chile. It resulted in a ranking that raised eyebrows: Viñedo Chadwick 2000 from Errázuriz’s Maipo Valley landed first position, ahead of Seña 2001 (a partnership wine between Errázuriz and Robert Mondavi) and third placed Château Lafite 2000. Now known as the Berlin Tasting, the annual event has been held in cities around the world, including New York and Tokyo.

The Berlin Tasting came to Singapore for the first time at Fairmont Singapore on 21 May, with 36 local wine scribes and buyers blind tasting 10 French, Italian, Chilean and Californian wines of Cabernet varietals. Californian wine Opus One 2006 clinched the top spot, Italian Tenuta Dell’ Ornellaia 2006 came in second, while two wines from Errázuriz—Don Maximiano 2006 and Viñedo Chadwick 2007—tied for third spot

Don Maximiano 2006 ($153) is available at The Beam Cellar. Tel: 6559 1155