Bordeaux's Influence in South America Yields Top Collectibles
The top Bordeaux blends from Chile and Argentina often rival their European and North American counterparts in quality but remain undiscovered by many. With exceptional quality that seems to improve every vintage, however, these wines can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Bordeaux, Napa, or even Barolo—and at a very attractive price point.
Bordeaux varieties first arrived in South America in the mid-1800s, many planted by wealthy landowners who wished to replicate the wines they loved to import. Many of these original cuttings were taken from France pre-Phylloxera, creating a living time capsule of the original clones, many still existing on ungrafted rootstock.
Today, many of these Chilean and Argentinian wines are made with a clear nod towards Bordeaux yet reflect the unique terroir and site expression of South America–high elevation and extreme climatic conditions included.
In recent decades, investment, technology, and international winemaking expertise have elevated quality. Winemakers are increasingly focusing on single-vineyard expressions, sustainable and organic practices, and minimal intervention. Below are just a handful of benchmark wines to consider adding to your collection.
Argentina
2020 Catena Zapata "Nicolás Catena Zapata" Bordeaux Blend Mendoza $109.99 98JS 97DC 97TA 96TWI 96VN 95W Nicolás Catena Zapata is the iconic flagship wine of Bodega Catena Zapata, created to showcase that Argentine wines—especially those from Mendoza—could stand alongside the world’s best. First released in 1997 and named after Catena Zapata’s founder, it was the Argentina’s first luxury cuvée to gain global recognition. Made from high-altitude vineyards that range between 3,000 and 4,700 feet, including the famed Adrianna and Nicasia vineyards, the wine is known for its structure, elegance, and aging potential. The 2021 is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Malbec, and 25% Cabernet Franc and is matured for 24 months in 100% new French oak, leading to a rich and bold style of wine, balanced by high altitude freshness.
2021 Familia Zuccardi "Finca Piedra Infinita" Malbec Paraje Altamira Mendoza (Pre-Arrival) $149.99 99WA 97DS 97JS 97VN 96TA Piedra Infinita is one of the top wines from Familia Zuccardi in the Uco Valley, a high elevtion subregion of Mendoza. The wine is 100% Malbec sourced specifically from Paraje Altamira, which sits just over 3,500 feet in elevation. “Piedra Infinita” means “Infinite Stone” — the name signals the importance of the vineyard’s rocky, calcareous soils and the idea of an ongoing relationship with the land. The wine is fermented and matured in concrete tanks rather than oak barrels: the emphasis is on letting the soil and altitude show themselves. The result is a modern Malbec with stony, mineral-driven structure and a high amount of fruit purity.
2022 Cheval des Andes Bordeaux Blend Mendoza (Pre-Arrival) $99.99 99VN 98DS 98JS 98TA 97WA Established in 1999, Cheval des Andes is a collaboration between Argentina’s Terrazas de Los Andes and the iconic Château Cheval Blanc of Bordeaux. The 2022 vintage is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Grapes are sourced from high-altitude vineyards in Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley, including old-vine Malbec from the historic Las Compuertas vineyard. Cheval des Andes consistently has the class and polish of its big sibling in Bordeaux, while also showcasing the unique high altitude terroir of Mendoza and New World fruit vibrancy.
Chile
2020 Almaviva "EPU" Bordeaux Blend Puente Alto Valle de Maipo $49.99 94JS 94WA 93VN 93WS
2021 Almaviva "Almaviva" Bordeaux Blend Puente Alto Valle de Maipo $149.99 98JS 97JA96WA 94DS
2023 Almaviva Bordeaux Blend Puente Alto Valle de Maipo (Pre-Arrival) $129.99 97JS 95WA 95VN
Almaviva is a collaboration between two legendary wine producers: Baron Philippe de Rothschild (owners of Château Mouton Rothschild) and Concha y Toro, one of Chile's most prominent wine companies. Located in Puente—the highest area of the Maipo Valley—Almaviva is the flagship wine of the estate and ranked amongst the country’s most internationally acclaimed wines. It combines French winemaking tradition with Chile’s distinctive terroir. A Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine, with smaller amounts of Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, Almaviva delivers power and finesse that rivals some of the best Bordeaux blends in the world. Also not to be missed is the estate’s second wine, EPU, which is made from the fruit from the younger vines and is designed to be a youthful and immediately enjoyable style of wine.
2021 Clos Apalta "Le Petit Clos" Red Blend Valle de Colchagua $49.99 96JS 96VN 94WA 93WS 92JA
2021 Clos Apalta Red Blend Valle de Colchagua (Pre-Arrival) $124.99 100JS 98VN 97JA
2022 Clos Apalta Red Blend Valle de Colchagua 6-Pack in OWC $659.99 99JD 99JS 98WA
Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, whose family created the French liqueur Grand Marnier, visited Chile with her husband in 1994. They quickly realized its potential for producing world-class wines, especially in the Colchagua Valley with its vines originating from pre-phylloxera rootstock brought from Bordeaux in the middle of the 19th century. In 1997, the Lapostolle family launched one of the icon wines of Chile: Clos Apalta. In its short history, Clos Apalta wines have consistently been critically praised and have earned multiple perfect 100-point scores. James Suckling recently wrote, “There’s no doubt that Clos Apalta is one of the world’s greatest red wines.” Le Petit Clos is Clos Apalta’s second wine, made in an approachable style. Like its older sibling, Le Petit Clos is a Bordeaux blend based on Carmenere with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
2018 Seña Bordeaux Blend Valle de Aconcagua $124.99 100JS 98JD 98WA 97DC
2021 Seña Bordeaux Blend Valle de Aconcagua $129.99 100JS 98WA 97DC 96VN 95JA
2023 Seña Bordeaux Blend Valle de Aconcagua (Pre-Arrival) $109.99
Widely regarded as Chile’s first “cult” wine, Seña was established in 1995 through a groundbreaking collaboration between Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errázuriz and the legendary American winemaker Robert Mondavi. This partnership marked Chile’s first international joint venture in winemaking, uniting two iconic families. The resulting wine is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominant Bordeaux blend, balanced with Carmenere, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The inaugural 1995 vintage was met with immediate acclaim, cementing Seña’s reputation from the very start. Since 2005, the estate has been fully owned and managed by the Chadwick family, continuing to amass accolades—including multiple perfect 100-point scores.
2021 Montes "Purple Angel" Carménère Valle de Colchagua $117.99 97JS 97TA 94VN 94WS 93WE Purple Angel is perhaps the most well-known Carmenere in the world! It is produced by Viña Montes, one of Chile’s most renowned wineries, which was founded in 1988 by Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray. Purple Angel, introduced in the early 2000s, is their flagship wine. Carmenere was a Bordeaux varietal once thought lost but rediscovered in Chile in the 1990s. Sourced from top vineyards in the Colchagua Valley (notably Apalta and Marchigüe), the wine is mostly Carmenère with a dash of Petit Verdot, and it is aged in French oak. It’s known for its lush black fruit, spicy and savory notes, and a plush yet structured palate.
2022 Concha y Toro "Don Melchor" Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Maipo $149.99 99JS 97DS 97TA 97VN 94WA A tribute to Don Melchor Concha y Toro, who planted the first Bordeaux varieties in the Maipo Valley in 1883, the Don Melchor Cabernet is a benchmark wine in Chile and the top wine made by Concha y Toro. The fruit is sourced entirely from the Don Melchor vineyard, which is located at the foot of the Andes Mountains, at just over 2,000 feet. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged for 15 months in about 75% new French oak, to create a richly structured and bold style of Cabernet.