1997 Don Melchor
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Tasting notes
100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels (70% new, 30% second-use). Winemaker Enrique Tirado's first vintage. Subtly shaded. Looks older than some. A little grainy-textured with a bit of heat on the end. Sandy and not the most graceful. Pinched finish. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Balanced weather imparted great roundness to tannins in the vineyard while careful lot tending ensured optimum ripeness. Grapes were manually picked through the month of April and were vinified at the Puente Alto facility. During fermentation and maceration we sought to bring out the full range of aromas and concentrations and ensure a balanced, harmonious, complex result. Attentive fermentation and proper contact with wood made this possible. Highly expressive of the strength of the Puente Alto vineyard, this wine's strength and length provide exceptional aging potential. Farmyard, meat, chocolate, mint, grippy tannins, black fruit, long finish with a herbal twist. Aromatic. (RH)
The 1997 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon is exhibiting some development in color and bouquet. On the palate it remains impressively youthful with layers of flavor and excellent balance in its full-bodied personality. It continues to evolve and may reach its peak by 2015. It should drink well through 2040. Importer: Banfi Vintners, Oldbrookville, NY; tel. (516) 686-2502
Deep crimson but relatively light nose. Some minerals and slight mintiness on the nose. Full-blooded, old-fashioned Chilean character. Dusty tannins. Inky dry start and then a the flavour cuts off rather suddenly. Could be mistaken for a Coonawarra Cabernet blind. Dry finish. (JR)