Argentina has long been the go-to destination for consumers looking for malbecs that deliver premium quality at a reasonable price, but its neighbor, Chile, is a darkhorse in the category as it increasingly diversifies away from traditional Mediterranean varieties amid unpredictable climate patterns.
In fact, quite a few malbecs in our annual Chile tasting report made us sit straight up in our chairs, and their value for money is on a par with some of the best from Argentina. In dry and warm years like 2020, we found that Colchagua's old-vine, dry-farmed malbecs fit well with the new climate context. One of our top wines from the country, the Neyen Malbec Valle de Colchagua Espíritu de Apalta Limited Edition 2020, comes from vines over 100 years old. Producers like Polkura and Viña Montes also showed their dedication to more affordable malbecs with outstanding quality.
