Chilean wine is known for being a two-sided affair. On one hand it is a trustworthy source of salable, entry-level wines that fit the space between quantity and quality. On the other hand, the country has been undergoing a revolution, shaking free of its inexpensive wine image through some hugely successful and high-quality cabernet blends.

Almaviva, Sena, Chadwick, Clos Apalta, Don Melchor, and VIK are among the most revered names. These wines do not simply replicate the classy Bordeaux or the well-crafted Napa cabernets, but instead combine the new world’s signature generosity and richness with old-world freshness and finesse, while also adding a touch of Chilean typicity. (See our 2020 Chilean trip report)

Arguably Chile’s new stronghold is the price point around $15-35, a sweet spot that captures diversity, quality and value in cabernet, to carmemere, to pinot noir, to syrah and carignan.

Over the years of drinking plenty of Chilean wines, I have always been intrigued by the dry-farmed, old-vine carignan (most notably VIGNO, see our value picks earlier) and the diverse, drinkable syrah from this country, which increasingly brings a sense of place to the glass with real interest, making these wines more unique than commodified.

But unlike carignan, which appears to be a niche taste at the moment with less than 800 hectares of vines in Maule, syrah is much more widespread, and the style varies on a regional scale and sometimes by vineyard or plot.

In the cooler, coastal San Antonio Valley and Casablanca, many syrahs might bring a spicy, elegant and tangy northern Rhone to mind, some with a brooding concentration and color that are comparable to a dense, polished syrah from Hawke’s Bay. The best is perfumed, peppery and zingy, which is all about the cool climate characteristics in Casablanca and the San Antonio Valley. Producers like Matetic, Garces Silva, Kingston Family, Vina Leyda, Undurraga and the joint venture Ritual (Veramonte) all make appetizing and intellectual renditions that highlight the cool climate of the region and single terroir. Casa de Marin probably makes one of the most demanding yet also delicious syrahs there. Casas del Bosque and the boutique MOVI producer Villard make more rounded wines, but with definition.

In the warmer Aconcagua and Colchagua, the syrah tends to be flattering, fleshier and more voluptuous, which might have more in common with a deep, rich Barossa and McLaren Vale shiraz than with Cote Rotie. In the arid Limari and Elqui in the very north, coastal areas and higher altitude offset the heat and give the wine more personality. The memorable ones tend to combine depth, savoriness and structure, sometimes becoming quite tarry and meaty with a tensile palate.

The following 10 wines give a good overview of the top Chilean syrahs with incredible value (half of them 95 points and above). But this list is just the start of the treasures to be found here, especially with many more excellent producers in the cooler Casablanca and San Antonio Valley.

These are a testament to how winemakers here increasingly let wines speak for themselves, spending time on the vine-growing environment instead of wine-making sophistication. They practice subtraction to avoid over-extracted obesity, redundant oak cosmetics, or fiery, hot-tempered alcohol. Today, Chile’s syrah wines are more balanced and drinkable, standing shoulder to shoulder with many first-rate cabernet blends, providing another “safe bet” for the dinner table.