The 2025 vintage stood out for its water-abundant winter and a balanced climate cycle, resulting in wines of great expression, fruit concentration, and freshness—positioning it as one of the best of the last decade.

D.O. PUENTE ALTO – MAIPO ANDES VALLEY 

In the acclaimed terroir of Puente Alto, located in the Maipo Valley—birthplace of the iconic Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor, named Wine of the Year 2024 by the prestigious publication Wine Spectator—the 2024–2025 harvest season was marked by extraordinarily expressive wines, with strong personality, remarkable richness in texture and flavor, and outstanding finesse and purity. 

These exceptional characteristics are the result of an extraordinary climatic year. The winter of 2024 brought 501 mm of rainfall, far exceeding the records of recent years. These generous rains enabled excellent water retention in the soils, encouraging balanced vegetative growth during spring. The vines thus achieved ideal development, laying the foundation for the structure and complexity now reflected in the wines. 

During January and February, warmer weather limited vegetative growth, which helped concentrate color, flavor, and structure in the berries. Later, a cooler March with significant diurnal temperature variation allowed for perfect ripening while preserving the full aromatic expression and potential of the grapes. 

In addition to these factors, naturally low yields in the vineyards intensified the concentration of aromas, flavors, and textures, all while maintaining a balance and elegance further enhanced by a second ripening phase in cool weather conditions. 

The harvest took place between March 7 and April 22, showcasing a Cabernet Sauvignon with small berries and great concentration. The result: wines with remarkable aromatic complexity and a deep, refined expression of Puente Alto’s origin. Thanks to the meticulous selection of each plot in the Don Melchor vineyard, the viticultural and winemaking team succeeded in faithfully capturing the essence of this unique terroir at the foot of the Andes Mountains. 

“This has been one of the best vintages we’ve seen in Puente Alto in the last ten years. The combination of balanced vine growth, phenolic ripeness, and ideal weather conditions has resulted in wines of great character, elegance, and aging potential, said Enrique Tirado, Technical Director and CEO of Viña Don Melchor.