For the eighth time ever, the Cabernet Sauvignon icon from Puente Alto was included in the prestigious ranking by US wine critic, James Suckling, ranking 44th this year

The flagship wine of Viña Don Melchor is making headlines again, this time with its 2021 vintage, the 35th and latest one to be released. After earning 99 points from James Suckling, it has secured a place among the eight Chilean wines listed in the Top 100 World Wines of the Year, an annual ranking published by the critic on his official website.

“Ashy graphite, cassis, iron, blackberries and a hint of cigar box and chocolate. Lots of violets, too. Rich and intense with a full-bodied palate. Showing density and very fine but structured tannins. Long and intense finish with lots of flavors. 93% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. One of the best over the last few years. Drinkable now, but will fledge and hold very well in the next 20 years”, is how Zekun Shuai, editor for JamesSuckling.com, describes the 2021 vintage of Don Melchor.

Meanwhile, Technical Director and CEO of Viña Don Melchor, Enrique Tirado, adds: “The 2021 vintage provided us with very expressive wines, brimming with concentration, dense and long, that cast a spotlight on the fruit and textural quality of every variety grown in the Don Melchor Vineyard, displaying a fine balance between finesse and energy, with extremely expressive flavours and aromas.”

Don Melchor has become the faithful expression of a Cabernet Sauvignon from a specific terroir in the Don Melchor Vineyard, located in the Alto Maipo Valley at the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The vineyard is divided into homogeneous plots, each receiving differentiated agricultural management to achieve a balanced growth for each vine and its plots. This iconic wine comes from 7 different sectors within the vineyard and is the result of exceptional creative alchemy.

The grapes are sourced from vines grown entirely from a massal selection of pre-phylloxera vines—80% planted on their own roots and 20% on rootstocks. With this approach, Don Melchor aims to protect the unique genetic material of the vines and preserve the identity of their origin.

This recognition once again confirms the undeniable quality and winemaking consistency of this iconic wine, representing all the finesse, balance, and complexity of D.O. Puente Alto.