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Don Melchor Private Reserve 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 |
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Don Melchor Private Reserve 2003 "Heady, uplifting aromas of plum, blueberry and new oak show a defined mintiness. Big flavors replicate the nose. Spicy, lasting finish with highlights of mint, evergreen, oak and black fruit." 92
“Ripe and focused. A pure beam of black currant and plum fruit layered with cocoa, mineral, loam, tobacco and toast.” 92
“Full bodied with dense, black cherry and dark berry fruit, chocolate, fig, rosemary, and menthol; fine tannins with a long finish. Porterhouse. Can serve now, but will improve with age.” Gold Star
“Earthy and real, with strong hints of menthol, forest floor, cassis and other concentrated berry notes. Ripe on the palate with a bit of berry candy balanced by cola, toast and vanilla. Solid by any first-class standards, with firm tannins and acids providing structure.” 91
“Winemaker Enrique Tirado has been studying the Don Melchor vineyard in the Alto Maipo since 1997, dividing its 281 acres into plots according to fertility. He started with four; now there are more than a hundred, from which he blended this sophisticated and luscious red. When first poured, it’s fresh and full of blackberry and raspberry aromas, then the spice and mineral tones get deeper as the wine gains texture and brightness. Sweet and juicy with crisp acidity, this is a brilliant Don Melchor, and one of the best Chilean wines from 2002.” 93
“Ripe and focused, with a pure beam of blackcurrant and plum fruit, layered with cocoa, mineral, loam, tobacco and toast. Ripe, smoky finish, with impressive structure for the vintage. Drink now through 2010.”
“From California this could be twice the price. It’s a very complex wine showing dark fruits, chocolate, coffee on the nose and a truly harmonious mouthfeel. Well integrated tannins make for excellent structure and a long finish.”
“Buy wine; take home; put in cellar or closet or wherever you keep wine you’re not going to drink for a few years. Or if you’re going to try this tonight, use two pitchers and pour it back and forth three or four times and then let it sit for a couple of hours before dinner. Concha y Toro’s Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 is, in other words, big as a house and locked up as a safe. Sure, the evidence of black currant, plum and black cherry flavors permeated by cedar, tobacco and black olive is a good indication of the future, but until 2008 through 2012, this wine is about the structural intricacies of oak and tannin. I would be interested in tasting it in, say, four years to see how it’s doing and if it merits an Excellent rating.” Very Good +
“I feel very fortunate to have tasted this wine from every vintage that has ever been made, and this is one of the very best. That is saying something, as it may have a more distinguished track record than any other wine from South America. Always wonderfully soft, with tannins that are unbelievably fine in grain, this vintage shows especially ripe and penetrating fruit flavors. Subtle accents of cedar and wood smoke lend additional interest, and though this will develop for another decade, it is thoroughly enjoyable immediately.” 94
“Those who got a gift certificate to a wine shop for the holidays may be looking for something really good. Consider the 2001 Concha y Toro Don Melchor. At $45 a bottle, it's as good as wines selling for twice the price.”
“Pleasant touches of chocolate, red fruit, ripe plums, a slight taste of pepper and fine and mature tannins.” Weekly Pick
“One of Chile’s most famous Cabernets, this offers rich black fruit along with notes of tobacco, sage and subdued oak. Wonderful complexity and balance – should drink well for a decade or more.”
“Deep ruby red; aroma of tobacco, black currant, rubbed sage and oregano; medium-full with excellent concentration; generous mid-palate, beautifully structured finish with perfectly integrated oak, youthful tannins, lively acidity and nice persistence of fruit. Quite elegant and refined. Attractive now, this should drink well for 10-12 years.” * * * *
“Dense crimson hue. Warm aromas of blackberry, cassis, new oak and tar. Concentrated flavors of plum, charred oak and cream soda. Sweet, minty finish shows lots of fruit.” 88
“An exemplary all-Cabernet blend (91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc) that rings with European class but New World vivacity. Aged in French oak for 15 months, Don Melchor 2001 is still very young and tannic and could benefit from cellaring of at least 6-8 years. Large, chewy tastes of cedar/pine and black plums need time to meld but when they do it will be memorable.” Highly Recommended * * * *
“Full bodied with excellent structure and balance, concentrated black fruit, fine tannins, and hints of bittersweet chocolate an roasted coffee; very long finish. Very best cuts of beef or lamb. Can serve now, but will improve with age.”
“. . .firm and round, ripe and elegant. The texture is generous, the firm tannic structure releasing cassis and blueberry flavors as the wine takes on oxygen. The fresh acidity, along with the juiciness and massive attack of the fruit, points to a great Cabernet vintage in Maipo. You may want to lay this down and allow its complexity to develop.” 92
“Gorgeous nose of black currant preserve and freshly roasted coffee, with a powerful yet very silky palate of cassis, plum, blackberry, loam, mineral and dark chocolate flavors that glide through a superlong finish. Don’t be deceived by its seeming accessibility though – there’s iron-clad structure underneath for the long haul.” Drink now through 2012. Highly Recommended 95
“A somewhat affordable Chilean, a luxurious, sumptuous red.”
“ What a beauty. Deep-shaded, deeply flavored, well-balanced, concentrated, elegant.”
“ Here’s a giant that needs to slumber for some time yet. It’s the best that the well-known house of Concha y Toro makes in Chile, one that should be quite spectacular when it peaks. Right now, you get black olive, black currant and dark chocolate flavours.”
"Consistently one of the world's best high-end Cabernet values, this shows great complexity and perfect balance among the many flavor nuances."
“Just released, this is an excellent Chilean red. While young, it was still a pleasure to drink with firm but supple tannins, layers of complexity and flavors. Color and nose to please with the finish expected from such a good wine. OK to drink now but will age nicely for a year or so and cellar for 8 to 12 years, I think. A case of this will be in my cellar.”
"Terrific personality here, with prune, cocoa, loam, mineral, dark currant, blackberry, tar and sanguine flavors. Well-structured, but fine balance and harmony already, with a very long finish. Winemaker Enrique Tirado has steered this wine to modern-day fruit (there are no more green or minty notes) without losing an ounce of its terroir. Can’t wait for the ’01 vintage. Best from 2005 through 2010." 94
"...medium to dark ruby/purple-colored. It reveals candied red fruit aromas and a majestically concentrated character. This jammy, cherry and raspberry-flavored wine has outstanding potential. It is spicy, broad-shouldered, and powerful. Projected maturity: 2008-2018." 89-91+
"Lovely plum fruit, subtle spices, gentle tannins with excellent concentration. 7-10 years." * * * *
"Flowery and fresh with bursting fruit. The texture is mildly jammy and bordering on syrupy, but that is as much a reflection of youth as it is extraction. The finish delivers toasty oak, vanilla and some candied fruit. Very pleasing." 91
"Consistently outstanding and very fairly priced, this features lovely black currant fruit with notes of cocoa, mint and subtle oak spice."
"Full bodied with structured tannins, smoke, blueberry, cassis, leather and black pepper; very long finish. Steak au poivre. Can serve now, but will improve with age."
"You don’t have to be a serious red wine drinker to recognize a red with amazing depth. Simply close you eyes, take a deep breath, savor the complex aromas in the nose, the layers of flavor on the palate, the smooth, mature tannins, the essence of sweet berries, the long, long finish. For all you know, you could be sipping the 1999 Don Melchor, one of the icons of Chilean wine and one of the world’s great bottles of red wine." 94
"Brilliant ruby color; intense black cherry nose with clove accents; richly textured blackberry flavors with hints of roasted coffee and dark chocolate; dense finish." SUPERB
"Purple hue. Pungent aromas of black plum, dusty cedar, menthol, clove and new oak. Herbaceous flavors of blackberry, tobacco, black pepper, earth and smoke. Lead pencil accents the finish." 88
"Good coffee and bramble fruit aromas. Spicy cassis fruit with developed leathery notes. Well balanced with good weight of fruit and long length." ***
"A Chilean classic, with aromas and flavors reminiscent of mint, smoke and leather that enhance the core of black fruit... rich and sumptuous"
"Impressive concentration, with a long, grip-filled finish. Most impressive Don Melchor yet." 92
".Long one of Chile's finest wines, Don Melchor in 1999 offers a floral, violet-scented bouquet that introduces a dense, almost brooding wine, full of dark fruit flavors that become enhanced by hints of mint and chocolate."
"...medium to dark ruby-colored and has a gorgeous nose of dark cherries and mocha. Its tangy, intense, and dense personality is highly concentrated and inky. This superb Cabernet coats the palate with wave after wave of blackberry and cassis fruit as well as loads of prodigiously ripened tannin. It is a youthful, extremely well-structured wine that should be consumed between 2008 and 2020." 93
"An amazingly pure, rich and expressive old vine Cabernet -- a single vineyard luxury cuvee from Chile. Don Melchor is a great example why Chilean wines are on the rise. It tastes like a First Growth Bordeaux with complex flavors and aromas of cassis, pencil lead, cedar, blackberry, and mint."
"Brilliant ruby red hue. Mushroom, cedar and black currant aromas. A rich entry leads to a moderately full-bodied palate and a lengthy finish offering subdued fruit, balanced tannins and high acidity. A sumptuous and age worthy Cabernet Sauvignon." 91
"Minty, dense and nicely structured with good spice and smooth plum fruit." 89
"Purple-black hue. Aromas of smoke, black pepper, barnyard and mint with a wisp of stewed fruit. Dense flavors of plum and black cherry underpinned by cedar box, dried tobacco and redwood. Lingering eucalyptus in the close." 89
"The Don Melchor Private Reserve from this excellent vintage has exceptional depth and spice. Powerful yet smooth on the palate... one of the finest examples of Chile's prowess with red wine." 90 Excellent
"Don Melchor offers a full and exotic '98, a fine red from a difficult year. It's black up front, the aromas hinting at the extract, along with the mintiness that often leads off this wine. The gentle flavors meld black cherry liqueur with coffee and orange in a smooth, brisk balance. This should evolve well over the next several years." 89
"...has concentrated currant, blackberry, plum and vanilla-oak flavors, fine-grained tannins and a long, well-balanced finish."
"...a splendid example of the best of Chilean winemaking. This is one of the oldest and most famous labels in Chile, highly regarded for its Bordeaux-style qualities of spice and pepper, which it mixes effectively with the intense berry fruits of Chile."
"...has exceptional depth and spice. Powerful yet smooth on the palate... one of the finest examples of Chile's prowess with red wine." 90
"Despite a cool, damp harvest, a rigorous selection process has produced a top-flight wine. Expect the intense smoked-spice, cassis/berry nose that is distinctively Don Melchor. Consumers should love the smoky/leather/cassis flavours and its supple nature on the palate. One for the cellar."
"General Characteristics: Lush, multitextured, balanced; long, spicy finish. Aromas: Dried fruit, cola, berries, mint, herbs. Flavors: Blackberry, black cherry, mocha, mint, black pepper."
"Reflective ruby hue. Heady, perfumed bouquet of ripe plum, black cherry, eucalyptus and lavender. Loaded with ripe plum and cherry fruit with a vibrant mintiness running through the core and lingering in the finish. A stunning Cabernet that stole the show." 96
"...has herbal black fruit aromas. This medium to full-bodied, highly concentrated wine has outstanding depth, loads of prodigiously ripened tannin, and immense power. This masculine, muscular wine will undoubtedly repay those with patience. Drink it between 2006 and 2018." 92+
"...an ultra-premium wine. Explosive, grandiose bouquet of iodine, and deep, massive fruit. Tremendous glycerin texture with thick concentration. Reminiscent of a superb Pomerol from Bordeaux..."
"Real Bordeaux character, well-balanced and elegant."
"A rich, highly pronounced wine with plush currant, black cherry, mint, bitter chocolate and smoke flavors, with a ripe and harmonious finish."
"Dark, ruby color. The palate has delicious, rich, intense, deep fruit flavors with low acid and tannins. Suggestion of tea leaves. Elegant wine, strong structure." 85
"Really inviting wine, with plush currant, black cherry, mint and smoke. Ripe and fleshy, yet has serious underlying structure and density. Mineral and sanguine nuances peek out on the finish. Harmonious and expressive now, with more to come." 90
"Full ruby-red color. Complex nose melds crushed red berries, dark chocolate, pine resin and mint. Dense and chewy, with currant, bitter chocolate and tobacco flavors complicated by intriguing herbal and wood smoke components. Uncompromisingly dry yet pliant. Finishes with dusty, substantial tannins. Serious Chilean Cabernet." 88
"This wine was classified as the best red wine from Chile by both The Wine Spectator and Robert Parker. Named after the founder of the winery, Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, the wine has become a symbol of the best the land and the winemaker's ability can produce in Chile. Deep garnet in color, concentrated spicy, fruity flavors, hints of mint, everything you'd want in a fine Cabernet Sauvignon. You gotta buy it, you gotta try it and you'll love it..."
"From the Puente Alto vineyard with aromas of kirsch, light barnyard, tobacco, black currant and anise. Full and strong in the mouth with an earthy, wild streak and firm tannins with a long licorice finish. Stylish and well-made..."
"A powerful vintage of Don Melchor, the '97 starts with a massive eucalyptus punch to the aroma, then layers it with deeper, forresty scents or moss-covered earth. The earthy savor continues through the wine, wrapping around the red cherry fruit and cloaking it in tannin. The wood and the earthiness don't let go of the fruit for now, but they will as they mellow with age. Earlier Don Melchors are showing well at six to eight years of age; this one may well last longer." 92
"With its pronounced mint, coffee, bitter-sweet chocolate, tobacco and dried currant flavors, this stylistic Cabernet also has impressive density and ripe structure. Another outstanding Don Melchor. Drink now through 2003." 90
"Deep, garnet hue. Exotic scents of coconut, evergreen and black fruit. Smooth and approachable with supple, plummy fruit and licorice nuances. Balanced and solidly structured with an elegant finish that hints of leather and vanilla." 91
"Gorgeous ruby color. Intense red fruit aromas with plum, cherries, blackberry and alcohol. Delicious ripe elegant fruit. Well-balanced. Powerful, deep rich fruit with genteel structure. The finish is a bit dry now with tannins, acid and alcohol, but should have wonderful potential with the marvelous fruit." 17/20 - Outstanding
The 1996 is medium to dark ruby-colored and has a red fruit (mostly cherries and raspberries) filled nose. It is medium-bodied and firm, with juicy cherries and blackberries as well as zesty hints of currants in its foursquare personality. Analytically, this wine has a high pH, but the acidity that it does have is tartaric (not lactic) and, therefore, it is tightly wound and firmer than wines that possess high percentages of lactic acid. Drink it over the next 8 years." 89
"...had the class and structure of a fine Bordeaux, with real depth and breeding. But it also had some of the unique characteristics we found again and again in these reds: an interesting hint of "tar," some black pepper and a dose of spices and herbs."
"A serious wine, austere but elegant, complex, and hinting of abundant fruit."
"Deep garnet, with aromas of spices, wild mushrooms, cigar box and a hint of anise. Powerful and meaty, with ripe plums, cloves and sweet oak; great balance, with a tenacious finish."
"Deep ruby-red hue. Strong eucalyptus and cassis aromas are very attractive. Concentrated and fleshy on the attack, with a moderately full body and chewy fruit flavors that finish with a tannic grip and oaky flavors." 89
"An intense minty scent is momentarily distracting at the outset, but this opens to reveal a wealth of complex aromas and flavors."
"Intense and smoky" The Top Ten
"Saturated ruby-red. Pungently herbal yet compelling aromas of basil and rosemary, along with a resiny nuance and a floral note of rose petal. Supple and fairly intensely flavored, though not particularly fleshy; flavors of cassis, cranberry and pomegranate complicated by eucalyptus and mint. The strong bitter red berry quality carries through to the firmly tannin finish. A still-young wine that's long on personality." 89
"Rich and dark. Ripe flavors of plum, prune, coffee and eucalyptus swirl through this dense, velvety Chilean red. The tannins are firm but not overbearing, and the wine finishes clean and long. It speaks of both the varietal and the terroir in a seamless package." 90
"A wonderful expression of Chilean Cabernet, this is a superb wine that can be enjoyed now with two hours breathing, or will reward another few years patience. The fruit is also drawn from Puente Alto, but is chosen for highest quality and given a full year in new French oak barrels. The result is explosive: dense, chewy, rich, with intense black currant and black olive flavours, a smooth polish of vanilla, licorice and chocolate in the finish. Pricey, but justified if you splurge."
"Knowledgeable tasters have described Don Melchor's terroir expression by the scent of eucalyptus that marks the wine strongly at different moments in its evolution. I wonder, however, if that's merely a sign of vigor rather than a vineyard expression. What marks Don Melchor for me is its generosity, the fatness of texture; it parallels a big, fleshy St. Julien like Gruaud Larose in that fatness upheld by a firmly embedded structure. Strip away the eucalyptus and you get to a bosky fruit, chewy, dense, uplifted. A classic Chilean" 92
"Minty and floral, with new wood, mature blackberry fruit, black pepper and herbal/spicy notes. Medium-to-full-bodied, with moderate tannins, black fruit and minty/herbal/spicy flavors; pleasing finish, with some drying tannins."
Creamy black fruits can be found in the medium to dark ruby-colored 1995's aromas. This is a supple, silky-textured, medium to full-bodied wine that bastes the palate with sweet, creamy blackberries and cassis. It is seamless, broad, and harmonious. This beauty additionally possesses a long, pure, and soft finish. It is a wine I would like to insert into a blind tasting of St.-Estèphes. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015." 92+
"gold was struck - a wine to die for. The 1995 wowed the crowd I tasted with, showing off beautiful mouth feel, vanilla, chocolate, menthol, and more." ****+
"Deep ruby purple. Intense licorice, black fruit and spice aromas show a modest wood accent. A solid entry leads a full-bodied palate with firm tannins and bright acidity. Intense, flavorful finish." 90
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