2002 Don Melchor
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Tasting notes
96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (68% new, 32% second-use). Dark crimson. Heady, almost sweet, porty nose. Definitely sweeter, stronger and less entrancing than some earlier vintages. Blackcurrant cordial! A tiny hint of green too. Not (yet?) well married. Bit blocky in its structure – needs more integration. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
The Wine Advocate
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
I tasted three bottled vintages of the iconic Cabernet Sauvignon from the Puente Alto appellation in the Maipo Valley, the classical zone for the Bordeaux grape in Chile, starting with the 2011 Don Melchor; this wine had plenty of aromas of graphite, iron, cold ashes, blood and fresh meat -- denoting freshness and seriousness. This year only has 1% Cabernet Franc blended in -- one of the lower, if not the lowest years ever. With time, the more balsamic aromas emerge, which also gives some brightness and light to the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with some sweet fruit and the core of fine-grained, classical Cabernet tannins. This is a fresh, elegant vintage of Don Melchor, a prototype Cabernet from Alto Maipo. (LG)
Gorgeous aromas of eucalyptus, black currants, berries and stones. Medium to full body, fine tannins and tension. Firm, caressing texture. This remains one of the top cabs of Chile as always.
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon is less concentrated than the 2001 and slightly hot on the palate. Importer: Banfi Vintners, Oldbrookville, NY; tel. (516) 686-2502