Wine Spectator's 2024 Wine of the Year

Classic wines are realized through consistency in style and quality, starting with meticulous care for the vineyards. It can take generations to develop a vineyard and make a wine that expresses its terroir. Now in its 35th vintage, this iconic Chilean red has undoubtedly succeeded in its endeavor as a reference for excellence. Wine Spectator's 2024 Wine of the Year is Viña del Melcher Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Vineyard 2021. Viña del Melcher was founded by the Ghislasti family, owners of Chile's largest wine company, Anchi Toro. They've built Don Melcher into one of South America's benchmark estates, rooted in Chile's most famous terroir, Puente Alto, a sub-district of Maipo Valley, just south of the Chilean capital of Santiago. Don Melcher's 314-acre vineyard, perched on a riverside terrace, is subdivided into seven parcels, all of which Technical Director Enrique Tirado has overseen since 1997. More than 200 separate lots of wine were vinified for the 2021 vintage, from which the final blend was selected. This year, the Cabernet Sauvignon base blend included 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot. While Chile has long been a value star in the wine world, its premier bottlings can fly somewhat under the radar. But the quality of Chilean wine has been setting new standards in recent years, and Don Melcher has earned its place among the world's great collectible Cabernets. Vina Don Melcher Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Vineyard 2021 is Wine Spectator's 2024 Wine of the Year.