In the 2004 film "Before Sunset," the two protagonists meet again after nine years and walk through the streets and along the river in Paris, carefully sharing the textures of their lives and relationship. In the midst of a long conversation, the female lead, Celine, says, "Even if you don't deliberately face the past, memories are beautiful enough in themselves." It is a scene that values the present moment while acknowledging the beauty that memories themselves offer. It also expresses, as is, the depth of feeling that emerges only as time accumulates. Even 20 years later, this line still lingers with many people and is widely quoted.
There is a similar moment when drinking wine. A single glass fully contains the traces of the seasons, sunlight, wind, and temperature that a vine has endured over a year. Grapes that ripen quickly lose their aroma and structure, but the slower they ripen, the more density they gain and the better their balance. In particular, Chardonnay grown in coastal highlands builds a distinct flavor profile unique to its region as the difference between day and night temperatures, the flow of sea breezes, and the chill of coastal air stack up layer by layer. Time accumulated slowly ultimately becomes the wine's character.
Chile's Aconcagua coast is a representative region where this "slow maturation" is realized. Located in the northwest of Chile, just about 10 km from the Pacific Ocean, the area clearly shows the influence of a maritime climate. Cold currents and sea winds blowing in from the Pacific, along with morning fog, lower grape temperatures during the day and preserve acidity. At night, the chill and large diurnal swings slow ripening and concentrate aromas. Thanks to this, Chardonnay grown here retains acidity and shows pronounced minerality, leaving a firmer structure and a clearer impression than Chardonnay from other regions. This potential is why Don Maximiano Errazuriz, the founder of Errazuriz, decided to build a winery here in 1870. Since then, for more than 150 years, Errazuriz has devoted itself to studying the climate, soil, and topography of the Aconcagua Valley, setting the direction for Chilean premium wine.
Even so, it took time for the region's potential to gain international attention. The decisive moment that brought this winery global notice was the "Berlin Tasting" in 2004. In this blind tasting, Aconcagua Valley wines made by Errazuriz outperformed top French wines such as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Petrus, and Chateau Lafite Rothschild. If the 1976 "Paris Tasting" put Napa Valley in the global spotlight, the Berlin Tasting became a turning point in which Chile moved beyond being "the country of value for money" to being recognized as a premium wine producer.
Errazuriz Estate Reserva Chardonnay is the easiest wine for understanding the potential of the Aconcagua coast. The grapes are harvested cool to retain fresh aromas and transported to the winery, then whole-cluster pressed before fermentation. Fermentation proceeds for 10–15 days at 14–17 degrees Celsius. Most ferments in stainless-steel tanks, but about 15% ferments in once-used French oak barrels to gently lend texture and structure. Malolactic fermentation is not carried out, and the wine is then aged 5–8 months in French oak barrels to maintain acidity and balance. It keeps fresh fruit at the core while not losing structure on the palate.
The finished wine shows a straw color with golden hues. On the nose, floral notes and tropical fruit aromas mingle, followed clearly by zesty citrus. On the palate, citrus takes the lead, followed by ripe pear, dried fruit, and subtle nutty notes. Lively acidity and fresh fruit drive the whole, leaving an elegant, long finish.
It pairs naturally with grilled oily fish, seafood scented with garlic, and oven-roasted poultry, and it also harmonizes with dishes of soft texture like cream sauce pasta or mushroom risotto. It also matches well with delicate cheeses such as Brie and Camembert. It won the grand prize in the New World white wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. The domestic importer is Ayoung FBC.