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. — 9 years ago

Tom Donegan

Sommelier Stokehouse

9.2

Nahe at its best! Cheers Eduardo — 10 years ago

Kevin Fitzpatrick

9.1

2002 White Hawk vineyard. Only 50 cases this year. Deep purple with spice and chocolate galore. Way to go Eduardo. — 11 years ago

Joe Corsini

9.2

Thanks for the bottle @Eduardo Bolaños! This shit is the shit. — 11 years ago

with Elizabeth

Jake Pippin

National Chile Manager, Vine Connections

8.9

Still killing it! Thinking of the new chile and @Lizzy Butler and Eduardo and Felipe! — 11 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.5

Show stopper. A true to type and incredibly assertive with (at this point) the perfect amount of distinguishable RS. I also don't think I can ever eat leeks again without thinking of this wine, so thanks for the incredible pairing @Eduardo Porto Carreiro ! — 11 years ago

with Elena

Jt Wheeler

9.4

Special wine from Cabo San Lucas. Sarong Merlot blend. Very smooth and well-balanced. — 13 years ago

Matthew Kaner

Owner/Wine Director Bar Covell

9.9

Holy eff. Welcome home, Eduardo Bolaños! — 14 years ago

Rob Mondavi

Owner/President of Winemaking Folio Fine Wine Partners

9.6

The wine still shows what we loved about being in partnership with Eduardo. Great vineyards and beautiful wine. — 9 years ago

Thierry POUSSIN

9.1

2015 at Vasse Félix winery, Margaret River, WA. 16 Nov 16 — 10 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.1

Burgundy Sauvignon Blanc. Great tension in the wine with some beautiful acid and minerality. — 10 years ago

Stuart Graham

9.2

Lovely smooth easy to drink bottle of wine.
— 10 years ago

Gerhard Ziemer

9.0

90% Moscatell, then the balance Macebeo and Viognier....really delicious: dry yet creamy and almost weighty in texture, with restrained aromatic qualities, yet layers of citrus and white stone fruit. Much more sophisticated than I expected at the price. — 11 years ago

Allison Levy

9.9

Warm. Dry. From eduardo — 11 years ago

Irina Bukatik

9.7

Kokkari
With press club maria and eduardo :-) — 11 years ago

Felipe Ferreiro

Sommelier/Wine Director Restaurante Las Rias Bajas

8.9

Mas evolucionado que el 14 en color, buena nariz cítricos dulces, fruta de hueso y muy floral. En boca buena entrada, potente goloso y con un muy buen final. — 11 years ago

Michael Wolfe

9.4

Dirty Rioja. Great wine! — 12 years ago

Michele Gazza

9.4

Box was 15 e — 13 years ago

Erika Van Boven

9.0

Cor de chasse — 14 years ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.2

Beautiful gift from the wine maker. Thx Eduardo — 9 years ago

Peter Giles

9.4

Glug Glug, large format I would have had more, much more. What Cru Beaujolais inspires to be. Via Eduardo at Untitled at the Whitney in NYC. — 10 years ago

Thierry POUSSIN

9.3

2012 cabernet Sauvignon Malbec petit Verdot, à la winery Vasse Félix, Margaret River, WA. 16 Nov 16. Assemblage très intéressant, à l'arrivée un très bon vin, corsé et rond, très agréable. — 10 years ago

Jose Cil

9.2

One of my favorites from Sardinia... amazing nose, body and value for money. An Eduardo Montouri special! — 10 years ago

Stef Esto

9.0

Chardonnay super bon. Le fruit reste bien en bouche. Vin rond — 10 years ago

Ayana Hatada Diaz

9.0

コスパがとても良い

飲み口は軽やかだが、テイスティングをするとしっかりとした味わいを楽しめる

フルボディだが、しつこくないので軽い肉料理にオススメ — 11 years ago

Marcela Baruch

Food/Wine Journalist, Sommelier

9.5

One of Uruguayan whites you should try soon. Albariño, South America, Eduardo Boido style. Bouza — 11 years ago

Spinning_spins

9.1

v2014. Tropical. — 11 years ago

Anthony Lynch

9.0

Félix Meyer's 2013 are a class act. The Pinot Gris Kaefferkopf is so open and generous right now, gushing with delicious fruit. Hard not to drink. — 11 years ago

Amy Currens

Sommelier/Wine Director FarmShop

9.1

And our lovely man, Eduardo Bolaños!!!! — 13 years ago

Bethany Lawrence

9.7

Astrales "Christina" vertical with winemaker Eduardo Garcia in January @ Finewine.com. — 13 years ago