Don Melchor Night

Rick's & Cris'
Tasted Saturday, September 10, 2011 by AllRed with 777 views

Introduction

At one of our monthly brown bag tastings we began talking about South American wines and Don Melchor in particular. We and one other couple decided to plan an evening around Concha y Toro's flagship cabernet. Cris made a terrific osso buco to accompany the vertical of Don Melchor.

Flight 1 - I. Warm ups. (5 Notes)

A few wines to work through, served with some cheese and other spreads.

Flight 2 - II. The main event. (5 Notes)

Our hosts supplied the 2002 and we brought the others to round out the vertical. As the 2005 was obviously too young yet and displayed some of the odd, youthful qualities of South American cabs, I felt we should start there and end with the 2001. Turned out to work very well as we progressed through the wines. Cris' excellent osso buco and potato & fennel gratin made for a wonderful dinner to accompany the wines. As to the wines, just more proof that these can be terrific wines if one allows them enough time to develop.

  • 2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 92 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    Decanted for about three hours and allowed to slow-o in bottle for another 3+. Upon opening, it displayed that citrus/grapefruit aroma that young Chilean wines have. Notes of loam, green/weedy vegetables, hebrs and eucalyptus. Balanced, with oak spices and a terrific mix of red and dark fruit on the palate. Got better over the course of the evening and the weedy/green qualities blew off. Still needs quite a bit of time to come into its window. Check back in 2015+. 92-93 pts now, with a good decant.

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  • 2004 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 93 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    Decanted for 3 hours, then slow-o'd in bottle for another 3+ before dinner began. Aromas of eucalyptus and mint, with loam and dark fruit. Has much more of a dark fruit profile than the 2005. Full-bodied, with flavors of cassis and black fruit, spice and herbs. Finishes very nicely. Solid, and nearing the start of its window. Drink 2013+.

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  • 2003 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 91 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    Decanted for 3 hours, then allowed to breathe in bottle for another 3+. Notes of loam, dark fruit, grapefruit and cat urine. Full-bodied, with firm, chalky tannins and flavors of red and dark fruits. Still has quite a bit of oak to integrate. Took a long while in the glass for the citrus and cat urine notes to dissipate and let the fruit come through. The furthest from ready...give this 6+ hours in the decanter if drinking now; even better to let it sleep in the cellar for a few years yet.

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  • 2002 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 94 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    Opened by Rick & Cris upon our arrival and poured into a decanter. It had maybe 3-4 hours in the decanter by the time we got to it. Dark crimson color. Aromas of eucalyptus, herbs, black fruit and currants with loamy undertones. Full-bodied and very well-balanced; tannins have a slightly chalky feel. Terrific fruit across the palate with herb, mocha and loam qualities as well. Gorgeous. 94+ pts.

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  • 2001 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 95 Points

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    Decanted for 2 hours and allowed to breathe in bottle for another 4. Aromas of roasted herbs, mocha, black fruit, currants and dried eucalyptus with an earthy/loamy undertone. Very well-balanced and well-integrated. Flavors of red currants, black fruit, roasted eucalyptus and herbs. Long finish. Some cigar box/tobacco notes developed toward the end of the evening. Mixes old and new world qualities very nicely...will fool a lot of people. Wonderful stuff, just at the beginning of its window.

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