The 2005 vintage was the inaugural release of Kai, Errazuriz' flagship Carmenère. The grapes come from the very best Carmenère vines found in two blocks of the Don Maximiano vineyards. One block has a deep soil with sandy-loam and 30-40% stone compound over an alluvial base, and the other a deep alluvial soil with about 50% stone compound. After allowing the Carmenère to properly ripen, the hand-picked grapes were carefully sorted and fermented in stainless steel tanks, with regular pumpovers, and about 25 days of skin contact. The new wine was then racked to 100% new oak barrels (80% French, 20% American) and aged for 16 months. The final blend included 7% Petit Verdot, which added structure, a spicy character, and a sense of freshness due to its acidity, and 5% Shiraz, which contributed black fruit and complemented the sweet tannins.
Deep, bright-violet-red in color, the wine has an attractive and intense nose of spicy aromas and black fruit. Notes of black pepper, truffles, and blackberries add complexity. The wine has a voluptuous mouthfeel and great structure that fills the palate with a brilliant balance of fruit and oak. Sweet tannins add depth and an incredibly long finish.