2005 Don Melchor

The 2005 Don Melchor was cropped from an almost perfect year, when the grapes were picked between April 11 and May 19 in a slightly warmer year that provided powerful wines. The bottled wine was Cabernet Sauvignon with some 3% Cabernet Franc and had been matured in French oak barrels for 15 months, with 70% new barrels and the rest second use. Somehow this vintage had never been rated before, and I'm glad I did because it's a very good year, with average rain and not so high temperature, with a combination of power and finesse, notes of ash, earth, red and black fruit and a powerful palate. You see more the hand of a good winemaker here; there is very good balance, quality of tannins and freshness. This has balance, finesse and energy. It's evolving at a very slow pace, and it should continue aging forever in bottle. 228,000 bottles produced.

Quite a dry, hot year. 3% Cabernet Franc. pH 3.56. More interest than earlier vintages. Rich but not over the top. Handles the alcohol well. Complex top notes of herbs and balsam. Good dry finish. Long. Lip smacking. (JR)

Highly favourable weather allowed us to cut grapes unhurried from Apr 19 through May 17 in what proved an exceptional year. Conditions meant we could wait for the grapes to ripen fully and we obtained excellent quality fruit. Upon harvesting the grapes offered highly expressive ripe fruit and the marked, classic notes of a Puente Alto Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit displayed good concentration, firm skins and supple, ripe tannins that show through well in the final wine. Closed, dense black fruit, dark cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, currants. A tiny bit of burn on the finish. Needs time.  (RH)