2006 Don Melchor

Ripe and dense black fruit. Lovely al dente tannic feel, giving just the right amount of grip, and big acidic lift. Milk chocolate character. Very fine and elegant, finishing with some violet notes. (RH)

A slower than usual maturation and a tremendous difference between daytime and night time temperatures allowed us to pick the grapes later than in previous years, between Apr 25 and May 19. The climatic conditions coupled with intense vineyard segmentation allowed us to follow maturation levels closely and wait patiently for the tannins to truly ripen while conserving the fresh fruit expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto. Dark cherry and plum fruit, spice, firm tannins, aromatic pepper quality. Tight and dense on the palate.  (RH)

The 2006 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon is a glass-coating opaque purple with an alluring bouquet of toast, tobacco, cedar, leather, mocha, and blackcurrant. Sweet, voluptuous (but not in a fruit bomb kind of way), layered, and complex already, its superb balance will ensure at least a decade of evolution and it should drink well through 2036. Don Melchor is the flagship wine of Concha y Toro, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee that was started in 1987, making it Chile’s senior icon. I feel confident about this because the winery kindly sent along a 1993 and a 1995 Don Melchor to provide context. The 1993 (94 points) reveals the nuance of a well-aged wine but with the balance to provide pleasure for another 10-15 years. The 1995 (95 points) is a bit rounder and more elegant, also with another 10-15 years of prime drinking ahead. Importer: Banfi Vintners, Old Brookville, NY; Tel: (800) 635-6511