Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

The first Don Melchor from my storage and it’s very good but still early. I won’t open another for at least 5 years or more. The nose on first open showed ruby dark currants. As it opened up in the two hour decant, it’s nose changed and showed some earthy funkiness with a fair amount of mushroom. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, overly baked strawberries, blueberries, black cherry cola, dark dry soils, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, soft leather, lead pencil shavings, dry stones, mushrooms, darker Asian spices, mint, dry herbs, anise, tarry notes, black tea, lilacs and fresh & dry dark florals. The body is full, round, lush & elegant. The tannins are round & beautiful, but only 50% resolved. The palate matches the nose very closely. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, overly baked strawberries, blueberries, black cherry cola, dark chocolate & mocha, dark dry soils, dry crushed rocks, dry stems, soft leather, lead pencil shavings, tobacco with ash, dry stones, darker Asian spices, mint, dry herbs, anise, tarry notes, black tea, lilacs and fresh & dry dark florals. The acidity is round & beautiful. The length, balance, structure and tension are extremely solid. The finish is still big, full, round, richly elegant and lasts minutes. Photos of; their beautiful Estate, harvested fruit, a library cellar that I think we’d all like to raid and their barrel room with tasting area. Producer history and notes...Concha y Toro was founded by Don Melchor de Santiago Concha y Toro and his wife, Emiliana Subercaseaux, in 1883. They are the largest producer of wines from Latin America and are headquartered in Santiago, Chile. They own 8,720 hectares spread throughout Chile's major wine regions of; Maipo, Maule, Rapel, Colchagua, Curico, and Casablanca. He started the winery with grape varieties that he brought from Bordeaux. The grapes he brought were; Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, and Carmenère. Concha y Toro started exporting wine in March of 1933 to the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 1950, the winery began to acquire more vineyards. They also began the process of adapting its wine to new markets and meeting a higher demand. In 1971, Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle became Chairman of the Board and succeeded in expanding the company. In 1987, they partnered with the U.S. importer Banfi Vintners. This partnership advanced sales and were able to incorporate more advanced technology in all stages of their production. They also started using small French oak barriques that further advanced the quality of their wines. In 2011, Concha y Toro bought the California portfolio of wines from Brown-Forman. The portfolio included these properties; Fetzer, Bonterra, Five River Wines, Bel Arbor Wines, Jekel Vinyards, Coldwater Creek, Sanctuary Wines Little Black Dress Wines. They are now a huge company with nearly a billion dollars in revenues annually. Don Melchor was Chile’s first iconic wine and has received with few exceptions consistent 90+ Parker scores since 1995. Most in the mid 90 range. This 04 is an excellent example of what they can produce in Chile. If I put this in a blind tasting, many would guess Bordeaux and some Napa Cabernet. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.0

My go to William Fevre Premier Cru @ £20 in latest vintage that is fab QPR 👍

🍷 Light straw yellow

👃 Fresh flinty mineral driven zesty lemon & lime mist w/ tropical, green apple & white flowers

👄 Crisp medium body of creamy, but not syrup, slight sweet punchy citrus, melon & green apple in med+ acidity

🎯 Long washed citrus over mineral dry & slight sweet finish with soft green fruits

Fab for ☀️ @ this price get naked & bath it it 🛀 or drink it like sensible people like me do 😜
— 8 years ago

Mac Hofeditz

9.2

Great find of CA Pinot in Ann Arbor! Killer juice — 9 years ago

Sarah Curran

9.0

Very crisp and balanced. Really enjoyed it. — 9 years ago

jarred gild

Head Wine Buyer Western Market

8.9

consumed at spencer ann arbor — 9 years ago

with Personne

Dalena Huynh

9.2

If you're looking for a cheap but fruity wine, this is a pretty choice. There's still a light alcohol taste to it but overall it taste like juice. — 9 years ago

Bob Schroeder

9.5

Nice aroma or ripe dark cherries. Dry start with a burst of dark cherries and a clean dry finish. — 10 years ago

Dan Fredman

Chef Sommelier World of Pinot Noir

9.3

"Lurid" is the mist appropriate descriptor for this rosé. Spicy, intense, kinda cranberry stuff going on inside. Great pairing with seared ahi tuna. — 11 years ago

Andrew Hildreth

10

A definite favorite with little alcohol content. Love this wine! — 11 years ago

Deb Ward

9.1

Low alcohol content but really really nice. Goes great with Thai — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.2

After the fab 2012 I had to try new 2015 @ £40 w/ 95 RP & it's just slightly more refined but will develop 👍

🍇 100% Marsanne

🍷 Rich golden yellow

👃 Squished peach, pear & fine tropical fruits w/ honey mist, citrus, white flower, minerals & banana tropics

👄 Med+ buttery silky waxy but not syrupy body of sweet melon, green apple, honey, young pear, peach & burnt apricot w/ low+ acidity all super balanced

🎯 Med+ dry & sweet pear skin, green apple, peach & honey — 8 years ago

Pamela Benning

10

Deliciously smokey. Smooth. — 8 years ago

Jessica Fisher

9.0

Sarah allergic — 8 years ago

Chris England

8.9

Bargain quality Chablis @ £12 & it's hard to beat on price - 88-90 every vintage & my go to @ this price 👍 a true ☀️ glugger 😎

🍷 Light golden yellow w/ lime hue

👃 Fresh wet rock mineral mist, citrus, green tart & sweet apples, melon & white flowers with a touch of fuel, grapefruit & pear

👄 Crisp refreshing med bodied full fruit palate of slight creamy sour green apples, citrus & touch grapefruit w/ medium tart acidity

🎯 Long dry finish of citrus & sour green apples smashed over wet mineral rocks — 8 years ago

Richard Austin

8.9

Really stellar riesling — 9 years ago

Jon Hanlon

9.1

Nice, solid. Not very complex — 9 years ago

Jusden Aumand

9.2

Great example of Niigata. Fresh super clean. Quite complex but does it very subtly — 9 years ago

Stylish Boots

9.0

From our anniversary trip to the winery. Sweet wine, paired with country style ribs & roasted heirloom carrots for delicious dinner. — 10 years ago

Robert Morris

9.0

Has a sense of the franc in the sinuses that I look for in a Cab Franc, distinctive like Bordeaux. Get again. — 10 years ago

Kelly Haffly

8.9

Restaurante antipasto Riesling with Kyle — 11 years ago

Mindy Juan

9.0

Fruity pear! Smooth. — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.1

🥂 Excellent value £25 NV bubbles that's shows you don't need big bucks to enjoy champers 👍

🍷 Straw yellow

👃 Biscuity buttery brioche, apple & pear, citrus zest, white flower, honey mist, light minerals & hazelnut

👄 Creamy refreshing med bodied fine bubbled mousse of buttery biscuit, green fruits & zingy citrus in med acidity

🎯 Long biscuity, green fruit & citrus creamy touch dry linger — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.0

One of my fav NZSBs @ £14 it soothes the sunny sizzles & cools the coconuts 😳 🌴 Oh & makes me wanna take a naked bath in the street just sayin' 🤡 its so hot ☀️

🍷 Pale straw w/ lime

👃 Punchy zingy aromatic pineapple, peach & mango rain mist w/ zesty lime driven citrus & gooseberry mineral infused splash

👄 Refreshing crisp zingy sweet mango & pineapple lead smooth punchy tropical fruits in a med body w/ med acidity through citric 💥

🎯 Long totally tropical & citrus taste w/ a dry lime smack 😎 — 8 years ago

Chris England

9.4

My favourite NV 100% Pinot Noir champagne 😍 this £70 NV is a couple of years old now adding to its complexity 👍 it's superb

🍷 Golden yellow w/ orange hue

👃 Intense toasted smokey singed oak infused buttery brioche, caramelised honeyed apple, pear, peach, citrus mist & burnt marmalade 😍

👄 Lively med+ bodied burnt caramelised & honeyed mousse of apple, pear & buttery sweet vanilla orange & peach

🎯 Long creamy burnt caramel honey apple, sweet pear & citrus — 8 years ago

Norma Normington

9.5

Fantastic nose. But light and not too sweet for a Riesling. — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.3

A wall of cedar coated in turbinado crystals, sweet tea, vanilla mist, wintergreen and wildflower honey up the two-hole. Really a gorgeous array. Orange blossom honey, pine nut, rock candy, lemongrass, cocoanut, cocoa powder, soft vanilla, sweet tobacco, coffee candy, brickle notes, squash blossom, poppy flower, and the worlds most perfect raisin. As delightfully indulgent as drifting carelessly down a clean river in spring and being enveloped in an endless array of budding flora! — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Elizabeth Jones

9.8

Cheap but so delicious. It is like drinking koolaid wine. Great for beginning wine drinkers — 9 years ago

Sandra Larson

9.3

Tart fruit forward with a slight lingering finish. I like it better with spicy food but it's still enjoyable on its own. — 9 years ago

Debbie Jo

10

Audubon communion wine. — 10 years ago

Charles Dyson

9.8

Not on the market yet but soon will be — 11 years ago