Leo Gentile

9.4

Deep nearly opaque purple. Earthy and meaty nose. Soft tannins and jammy but balanced ripeness. Superb example of this iconic Chateauneuf de Pape — 3 years ago

LM Segal

9.7

Rookie mistake to drink this beauty right after the SQN…but the error of a hedonist, to be sure. This was devoured before it could warm up from cellar but just wow. Iconic. Luscious. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

At the Toowoomba Wine Show Judges Dinner last Saturday night. No notes but this was a good Carignan from Priorat where the prices for some of the iconic Garnachas from the likes of Palacios are thru the roof. This is more affordable. — 5 years ago

Lisa McEniry

9.1

From Table 128 — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

This is the 30th anniversary of this iconic Pinot Noir bottling. This particular edition was aged for sixteen months in 65% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose here is simply sensational ranging from cardamon accents to peat moss and black truffle shavings to bright red fruits and citrus zest that all amalgamate marvelously. The texture is beautiful as this silky wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. The seamlessness of this wine really entices. Dense dark and red fruits pack this incredible new release. I realize that I have written this before but this 2016 ‘Evenstad’ is up there with the best of its kind ever produced. If enjoying in its youth I beseech you to afford at least a two hour decant prior to enjoying this seductive, hedonistic Oregon Pinot Noir. Drink 2020-2040- 95 — 7 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.1

A fantastic expression of a Bordeaux Blend from Napa. Lots of fruit up front with solid tastes of blue and black fruit as well as baking spices. The tannins are sleek and elegant and nicely integrated into this wine. The finish is smooth but spicy. A definite iconic wine from Napa. — 8 years ago

with Lisa

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. — 8 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.6

2006 vintage. The first vintage for Caroline Frey to be in charge. This shows beautifully now for a wine that was totally underrated by Robert Parker on release.While it may not have the depth and power of the greatest vintages of this iconic wine, this 2006 is a terrific wine in it's own right. Complex nose with spices, black fruit, tobacco and cedar. In the mouth it is beautifully balanced with bright acidity embracing layers of black fruit and spices and velvety tannin. Impressive length too. Abv. 14%. — 3 years ago

Kristen Grimes

9.5

Yellow apple aromas, classic Chardonnay. A bigger body without being too creamy and enough acid to balance. Get to Know Chardonnay Class. — 4 years ago

Allyson Wiggam

9.4

From elemental spirits. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid Ruby in colour. Spicy with a little white pepper on the nose. On the palate spicy savoury Cherry notes. The 2nd wine of the iconic Langi from Mount Langi Ghiran. Finishing with Medium plus intensity and ultra soft tannins. One of the best $30 wines around. — 6 years ago

Janet Coleman

9.0

Love this! Smooth and luscious! Yum — 7 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Dry and earthy. — 8 years ago

with Alex

Sam Zimman

9.3

Electric Chenin. Sexy ingenue having a threesome w iconic Italian cinema producer couple — 8 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Wow ! Fucktastic out of the gate.

Nose is so evocative of the mosel. Blue slate. Green apple skin.

Palate is crystalline sugar. Bright mineral. Perfect green apple. Wow.

Luscious. Some apricot. Rich but balanced. Fantastic density.

Iconic mosel spatlese.

Bought from fass selections. — 3 years ago

Brad Jensen

9.1

Bold nose of raspberry, blueberry and tart ripe cherry acidity. The palate is fruit forward and slightly jammy, with peppery notes and a light, tannic finish with some woody flavors, and notes of tar. — 4 years ago

Mark Quezada

9.4

Firing on all cylinders! 🔥 Red and black fruited with a velvety texture. Cola and kirsch. Honestly still could’ve aged for another 3-5 years. Iconic Willamette Valley vineyard from one of the great producers in Oregon. — 5 years ago

Chad Brewer

9.2

Baby. Should drink in 20+ years. Will go down as an iconic wine of California as well as the world.2011 was slept on by the Bobby Parker’s of the world, but they know nothing of restraint and elegance. — 6 years ago

Mark Frigo

9.2

Smooth. A great cab. — 7 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.6

I am changing my mind on this wine; I’ve been opening different vintages for a customer and I am experiencing amazing taste buds feelings🤙🏻
But the real plus of this iconic Shiraz is the persistence, it never vanishes, never fades away. It stays with you.
Real good🙏 — 7 years ago