Errazuriz Estate Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2010

Your first take on this heavily oaked, natural-yeast Chard is that itrsquo;s a three-alarm smoke alert. Few, if any, Chilean Chardonnays are this overtly oaky. But the wood is of high quality, and the more time you give it the more you find apple, citrus and spice. Yes, itrsquo;s still resiny. But the balance and natural character of the wine are very good. Best if you like a New World style with plenty of barrel character.

Light, bright gold. Intriguing aromas of white peach, truffle, ginger and iodine, with hints of flowers and sweet butter. Dense and tactile, with an invigorating thread of smoky minerality giving the oily pit fruit and spice flavors a steely quality. The finish repeats the iodine and floral notes and lingers with excellent persistence. Irsquo;d love to taste this next to a high-end Saint-Aubin, or even a Chassagne-Montrachet.

Bright yellow-gold. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes dried pear, orange, iodine and toasty lees. The palate offers sappy, densely packed orchard fruits along with suave spice and floral nuances. A note of toasted grain comes up with air and lingers on the long, focused finish. This rich, fleshy wine would be great with a buttery fish or chicken dish.

Green-gold. Smoky melon and peach aromas display an intriguing pungency and good depth. Rich and smooth but lively, with fresh orchard and pit fruit flavors, medium weight and good finishing grip. Leaves a strong impression of honeydew behind.

Rich barrel aromas control the nose, and the offshooting toast, vanilla and roasted nut scents are familiar and controlled. The flavors are of tempered citrus and nectarine, while the finish has a creamy character along with a breeze of the tropics. Smooth and round mouthfeel.

Green-tinged yellow. Strikingly complex aromas of spiced pear, apple, floral honey and smoky lees. Fleshy orchard fruit and orange flavors are given spine by tangy minerals and gain an intriguing herbal quality on the back end. The mineral note lingers on the long, juicy finish.

The light gold-colored 2007 Chardonnay Wild Ferment is 100% barrel-fermented but with only 17% new oak where the wine remained for 10 months. It has an expressive bouquet of buttered toast, spiced apple, and white peach leading to a surprisingly elegant, medium-bodied Chardonnay with tangy flavors and a long, pure finish. It can be enjoyed over the next three years. Errazuriz has been making impressive strides under the inspired leadership of the soft-spoken Eduardo Chadwick. He has gathered a superb team of viticultural and winemaking talent for Errazuriz as well as his luxury wines, Sena and Vinedo Chadwick.