WIA continues with a ridiculous value Cabernet from Chile! At this price it’s an easy pick for the WIA Southern Hemisphere award. No competition, really. And this time around we knocked the price down even more - a MASSIVE 66% OFF. If you’re new around here, WIA stands for Wine Intrigue Awards, and during the next few weeks we’ll revisit our best, most popular, most re-requested wines of the year. One last chance to grab your favorites!

A few things will happen when you drink this hugely overdelivering 91 POINT Cab.

First, a physical reaction of goosebumps is likely. And then a blast of confusion and incredulity. You’ll think “WHOA for $17 this is insanely good. HOW?!”

Then you’ll simply relent, enjoy the ride, thinking “DANG Wine Spies! You did it again.”

Finally, you’ll wish you bought more. Seriously, it drinks like a $50+ Napa Cabernet. You can get a whole case for roughly $200 and have a reliable weeknight option that’ll never let you down.

The outstanding quality from Alcance’s flagship Bravura lineup makes sense when you consider they’re held under the same family tree that brought Vérité, and Cardinale into 100-point fame.

But those wines easily fetch $300+ figures. This, at $17, isn’t even in the same league. Now, don’t get it twisted - this isn’t nearly on par with those labels, but the quality gap really doesn’t justify the massive price difference either.

Of course, this type of value could never be had from Napa - or maybe anywhere in North America. But in Chile, that’s where the hidden values sit.

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous explains the lineage best “The wines from this producer, which is owned by California’s sprawling Jackson Family Wines, are made under the watch of consultant Andrés Sanchez, who is the winemaker at Gillmore as well as a founder of MOVI and VIGNO. Sanchez works with Randy Ullom, who has been overseeing Jackson Family Wines’ international portfolio since 1993, including this property, also founded in 1993 and comprising 200 acres of Maule Valley vineyards.”

This beauty appeals to anyone who loves a ripe, round California Cabernet. With warm, friendly tones of blackberry and cassis, some sweet leather, and vanilla bean. A fair amount of new French oak delivers that added complexity and toasty notes. It’s soft and medium-bodied and oh so lovable.

Absurdly fair priced, at 2/3 OFF a Cab like this should be an automatic buy for literally any breathing wine lover.

91 Points – James Suckling

“A velvety Cabernet with citrus peel and currant character. Full to medium body, silky tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.”