After a relentless workout leading into and out of Christmas, our credit cards deserve a break. So here are two reds—both from Chile’s Maipo Valley—that somehow remain well underpriced despite each meriting at least a 90 rating.

Morandé Vitis Unica 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon — Maipo Valley, Chile ($18.95)
While the rest of us were overindulging through Christmas, here’s a cabernet that seems like it was working out at the gym the whole time—shedding fat and leaving it lean, mean and energetic. Just a few years into its launch, Morandé’s Vitis Unica is a terroir-driven collection that honours distinctive Chilean vineyard sites, showcasing the unique character of each origin through precise, contemporary winemaking rather than generic “reserva” styling. The 2022 vintage of its cabernet is the best edition yet. Pouring a deep, cassis‑stained purple, it hums with blackcurrant, ripe plum and a flicker of red cherry. Aromas of fresh tobacco leaf, graphite and roasted coffee curl out of the bowl, adding savoury tension to all that generous fruit. Savoury is the key word here, for while the palate is fairly full‑bodied, it’s wonderfully spry, with fine‑grained tannins and bright, Maipo‑mint freshness, and a long, mineral‑etched finish suggests. It can likely cellar for a good five years, but it’ll shine right now beside a simply grilled ribeye. (3 g/L sugar. 14.2% alc.) 91

Perez Cruz Cabernet Sauvignon Gran Reserva 2023 — Maipo Valley, Chile ($16.95)
Just prior to the publishing of the 2025 edition of TheLushLife’s Top 40 Wines Under $25, I wrote that If there were three wines left off the list that I was having second thoughts about. This was one of them. Then I sampled it again over Christmas, and…damn…it should have been included. Ridiculously priced, it pours deep ruby red, with uplifting aromas of cassis and ripe wild berries accented by mint, cedar, herbs and spice. Its silky palate is full-bodied and well-structured, delivering vibrant dark red fruit, with hints of toast and vanilla, wrapped in smooth, rounded tannins and a persistent finish. It’s an affordable can’t-miss as you prep for your New Year’s Eve celebrations. (3 g/L sugar. 13.4% alc.) 90