November 1, 2023 - Tasted at Don Melchor vertical dinner with Enrique Tirado. All tertiary at this point, the fruit is gone. There is some interest but ultimately the fruit is long gone and the wine isn’t all that fun to drink. It is being offered for over $1,000 per bottle and this is an easy pass.
February 5, 2022 - Color brickish red. Red fruit, strawberries, autumnal leaves, cedar, licorice. Old bdx like. Palate is red fruit, some sour cherries, sweet spices - nutmeg, a hint of salinity. Acid is a tad Low. Drink up now. MB LA MT MF
July 3, 2020 - Amazing wine, mint, leather, earth and smoke. Ripe red fruit. It’s balanced, long and very enjoyable. It’s drinking in the window right now and my goodness is it good. Let me know if you’ve tried it recently because this was just great.
November 16, 2016 - Dark red colour with some yellow at rim
Big nose, balsamic notes, minty, cedar and just a hint of VA
Sweet fruit, gentle tannins. It has a warming baked earth sort of taste with leather and tobacco.
Mellow and well balanced, some menthol notes on the finish
Mature and tertiary but not in decline. Sheer pleasure
October 13, 2016 - Past its prime. But, whoever we bought this from stored it well. Fantastic nose, great bottle age. After a 30 minute decant, it really opened up and showed its beauty. Drink it if you've got it.
April 19, 2012 - Bought in 2011 at Concha y Toro store at Santiago - USD 100 more expensive than in USA - opening was a surprise well conserved cork - but than on side read " re-encorchado oct 2001" -- wine was corched again on 2001 ...explain that "new" cork, but should be informed also on bottle -- - 1988 was a rainy season and that worries me for the wine, but it was good not that much fruit on opening, but nice Tannins and good smoky taste, kept growing on decanter and last glass was defenelly the best.
April 8, 2012 - Crock was slightly depressed. Sowing signs of light seepage. The nose had a medicinal eucalyptus minty thing going on. Tasted like balsamic vinegar. Had to dispose of the wine... Don Melchor is a great wine, but I don't think it's meant to age more than 10-15 years....
November 14, 2006 - I opened this and brought it to Gibby's so the shop's proprietor and thelostverse could both taste this wine. I decanted it only for sediment. Another well-stored bottle in its original tissue, the cork came out in one piece, and wine had soaked only .25" up. Still rather youthful in appearance, this is mostly garnet in color, with some bricking toward the rim. The nose is earthy, with mint, eaucalyptus and old red fruit notes. The palate is a bit tired, but has enough red fruit left to make it enjoyable. Proof positive that well-made Chilean Cabernet can age well when properly stored.
August 18, 2006 - Allred brought a bottle of this to Haggis' party on Saturday. By far the oldest Melchor I have had. The others have been the 1999-2001 vintages. I was surprised at how well this wine was showing after 18 years. The best part of this wine was its bouquet which showed promise of being a 90+ point wine. However, there was a little mustiness on the palate mixed in with the plum and berry notes. Soft tannins which were still making their presence known. 87-89 points.
August 12, 2006 - Taken to Happy Day at the Haggis'. This bottle was in pristine condition, with a base neck fill and a cork soaked only about a third of the way up if I recall correctly...and it was still wrapped in its original tissue. Decanted only for sediment and poured back into the bottle, which was kept corked as much as possible. Has held up surprisingly well, with notes of mint, leather and eucalyptus. Medium body, with mint, spice and chewy red fruit flavors. In my opinion a bargain at the $15 I paid for it a few months back. 88-90.