Best Chilean Wine Variety Producers
Clos du Lican is a winery located in the Apalta Valley in Chile, renowned for producing high-quality red wines. It was established in 2004 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet as part of the family estate, Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle.
The vineyards cover 15 hectares, primarily planted with Syrah, with the goal of crafting single-vineyard wines. The first vintage, Clos du Lican 2019, was released in 2022 under the leadership of Charles de Bournet, the seventh generation of the Marnier Lapostolle family.
Viña Morandé is a Chilean winery renowned for its innovative approach to winemaking and commitment to quality. Established with a pioneering spirit, the winery has consistently embraced novel enological practices and sustainable viticulture. Viña Morandé cultivates vineyards across several of Chile's prominent wine regions, including the Casablanca, Maipo, and Maule Valleys.
Each of these areas offers distinct climatic and soil conditions, allowing the winery to produce a diverse range of wines that express the unique characteristics of their respective terroirs.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 94 points
2023
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2023, 2019
BEST Viña Morande Wines
Viña Leyda is a pioneering winery located in the Leyda Valley, Chile, approximately 4 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. Established in 1998, it was among the first to plant vineyards in this coastal sub-region of the San Antonio Valley, focusing on cool-climate grape varieties.
The proximity to the ocean provides a unique cool coastal climate, ideal for cultivating varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The vineyards benefit from the maritime influence, contributing to the wines' freshness and minerality.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 94 points
2023
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2022, 2016
BEST Viña Leyda Wines
Montes Wines is a renowned Chilean winery established in 1987 by Aurelio Montes, Alfredo Vidaurre, Pedro Grand, and Douglas Murray. The winery is celebrated for its commitment to producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique terroirs of Chile.
Montes Wines is situated in the Colchagua Valley, one of Chile's most prestigious wine regions. The winery's facilities are designed with Feng Shui principles, creating a harmonious environment that enhances the winemaking process. The winery employs innovative techniques, including dry farming, to produce wines with exceptional quality and character.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 98 points
2024
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2018
BEST Montes Wines
Don Melchor is a Chilean wine brand with a rich history and a reputation as one of the most prestigious wine producers in the country. Its story began in 1883 when Don Melchor de Santiago Concha y Toro, together with his wife Emiliana Subercaseaux, founded the Viña Concha y Toro winery.
Don Melchor was a pioneer in the Chilean wine industry, credited with importing the first pre-phylloxera vines from Bordeaux and planting them on the family estate in Pirque, in the Maipo Valley. The Don Melchor vineyards are located on the northern bank of the Maipo River, at an altitude of 650 meters, in the heart of Puente Alto.
Vinos Baettig is a Chilean winery specializing in the production of high-quality wines with minimal intervention to achieve the fullest expression of terroir. Located in the Traiguén area of the Malleco region, the winery is situated approximately 600 km south of Santiago.
The vineyards were planted in 2013 on plateaus with volcanic soils and without artificial irrigation, allowing for sustainable and natural grape production. Vinos Baettig focuses on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varieties, which thrive in Traiguén's temperate climate.
P. S. García is a Chilean winery founded in 2006 by winemaker Felipe García. After working in larger wineries, Felipe decided to create his own wine that reflects his vision of true "Chilean" wine. Inspired by old Carignan vines from the Maule Valley, he started this project with the goal of producing wines with unique character.
The winery focuses on crafting wines with a distinctive personality, using grapes from high-quality vineyards in the traditional wine regions of Itata and Maule. Their portfolio includes a variety of grape varieties, such as Carignan, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Durif, and Petit Verdot, as well as Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir from the Casablanca Valley.
Polkura is a Chilean winery located in the Marchigüe area, at the western end of the Colchagua Valley, approximately 30 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean. Established in 2002 by winemakers Sven Bruchfeld and Gonzalo Muñoz, the winery focuses on producing high-quality Syrah wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.
The name "Polkura" derives from the native Mapuche language, meaning "yellow stone," referring to the area's abundant yellow granite found within the red clay soils. These soils, composed of decomposed granite and clay, contribute to the minerality, elegance, body, and structure of the wines.
Matetic Vineyards is a Chilean winery established in 1999 by the Matetic family, descendants of Croatian immigrants who settled in Punta Arenas in 1892. Located in the Rosario Valley, nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Mountains, the vineyard benefits from a unique coastal climate ideal for both red and white grape varieties.
The winery is renowned for its commitment to organic and biodynamic agriculture, promoting biodiversity and ecological balance. This approach ensures the health of the soil, plants, animals, and people involved in the farming process.
Best Chilean Wine Varieties
Clos du Lican Syrah 2021 is a premium red wine from the Apalta Valley in Chile, made from 100% Syrah grapes. This wine has received exceptionally high ratings from wine critics, including a perfect 100 points from James Suckling, who described it as "ethereal and endless," with aromas of lavender, sage, dried potpourri, blackberries, tar, pepper, and black licorice.
Jeb Dunnuck awarded this wine 98 points, highlighting its deep purple color and notes of darker berries, cassis, smoked herbs, spring flowers, and ground pepper. He described it as "the best Syrah I've tasted from South America."
AWARDS
James Suckling - 100 points
2024
Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 is a premium Chilean red wine produced in the Puente Alto region. This wine ages for 15 months in French oak barrels, 71% of which are new and 29% second-use. It has a deep purple color and pronounced aromas of red fruit, with floral notes of violets and roses.
On the palate, it is flavorful, with a gentle start, followed by freshness, elegance, and the strength characteristic of wines from Puente Alto.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 99 points
2024
Montes Muse 2021 is an exceptional red wine from the Maipo Valley in Chile, crafted entirely from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. This wine boasts a deep ruby-red color with hints of fuchsia and crimson. On the nose, it presents intense aromas of black currants, violets, flower stems, bark, and damp earth, complemented by notes of mushrooms, black truffles, and tobacco.
The palate is full-bodied, featuring very fine tannins and exceptional integration, with complex layers of black currants, red cherries, plums, molasses, and subtle balsamic touches. It is elegant, harmonious, and sophisticated, with a long-lasting finish.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 98 points
2024
Morandé Black Series Pinot Noir is a distinguished red wine from Viña Morandé, crafted from grapes grown in Chile's Malleco Valley. Aromas of roses and fine wood, with notes of strawberries and fresh cherries. This wine exemplifies the winery's dedication to producing high-quality wines that reflect the unique characteristics of their terroir.
This Pinot Noir pairs well with dishes such as beef, veal, poultry, and game meats like deer or venison.
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2023
Vina Montes Outer Limits Old Roots Cinsault 2022 is a distinctive red wine from Chile's Colchagua Valley, crafted entirely from Cinsault grapes. This wine exhibits a vibrant ruby-red color with magenta hues. The nose is abundant with fresh aromas of raspberry, blueberry, and blackberry, complemented by subtle hints of apricot and oak.
On the palate, it offers a balanced and fresh experience with medium body, vibrant red fruit flavors, finely grained tannins, and a long, mineral finish. This versatile wine pairs excellently with a variety of dishes, making it a perfect choice for most meals.
AWARDS
Decanter World Wine Awards - Platinum
2018
Baettig Vino de Viñedo "Los Parientes" Chardonnay 2022 is a distinguished white wine from the Traiguén area in Chile's Malleco Valley. Crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes, this wine showcases the unique terroir of the region. The winemaking process involves whole cluster pressing, followed by 24 hours of cold settling.
Fermentation is carried out in barrels using native yeasts, preserving the wine's authentic character. The wine is then aged for 8 months in French oak barrels, with 15% being new and the remainder used, allowing for subtle oak integration.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 97 points
2023
P. S. García Petit Verdot 2021 is a unique red wine produced in collaboration with the Mendoza family, aiming to revitalize the history of Chilean winemaking. This wine is the result of grafting the Petit Verdot variety onto more than 100-year-old País vines, cultivated in the dry interior of the historic Itata Valley, specifically in the Piedra Lisa vineyards.
This wine is characterized by its freshness, firm tannins, and full body, reflecting the allure of this variety.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 97 points
2023
Polkura Secano Dry Farmed Syrah 2021 is a premium red wine from Chile, made from 100% Syrah grapes grown without irrigation in the Marchigüe region of the Colchagua Valley. The wine is known for its purity and fragrant aromas, featuring notes of red cherries and flowers, with a hint of white fruit.
Polkura Secano Dry Farmed Syrah 2016 is an exceptional example of Chilean Syrah, showcasing the characteristics of its unique terroir and the producer's commitment to quality.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 96 points
2023
Matetic Vineyards' EQ Cool Climate Syrah is a distinguished red wine from Chile's San Antonio Valley, crafted from organically and biodynamically farmed grapes. This Syrah is known for its smoothness and complexity, reflecting the cool climate of its origin.
The wine is aged in French oak barrels, contributing to its depth and character. On the palate, it offers a harmonious balance of fruit and spice, with a lingering finish that showcases its elegance and structure. The wine's acidity and tannin structure make it suitable for aging, allowing further development of its complex flavors over time.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 95 points
2023
Viña Leyda's Canelo Vineyard Syrah is a distinguished red wine from Chile's Leyda Valley, celebrated for its cool coastal climate. This 100% Syrah varietal captures the unique terroir of the region. The wine presents an intensely spicy nose with notes of white pepper and bay leaf, complemented by aromas of blueberries and subtle violets.
The Canelo Vineyard Syrah exemplifies Viña Leyda's commitment to producing wines that reflect the distinctive characteristics of the Leyda Valley's coastal terroir.
AWARDS
James Suckling - 94 points
2023
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