2016 Don Melchor
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot. Aged 14 months in French oak (55% new). Crystalline cassis aromas. The oak is entirely complementary – in fact, if anything this is mildly under-oaked, that fruit is so powerful! Very supple tannins. Savoury liquorice and black-olive flavour on the finish. Finely polished. High-definition Cabernet with loads of ageing potential, which should coax out more interesting complexity. (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot. Aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (55% new, 45% second-use). El Niñ o with rain during harvest. The most difficult vintage ever in Chile? Only 40% of the available fruit from the vineyard. Not as integrated as most. Edgy. (JR)
The purity and reserve to this is wonderful with blackcurrants and crushed stone. Some redcurrants, as well. Full body. Polished and refined tannins give this a pleasant, caressing texture. Tight and focused. Elegance with structure. Drinkable now, but better in 2022.
Even though it's still very young and it's not going to be released for some months, the 2016 Don Melchor shows great elegance and poise. This might be a lighter year for Don Melchor, but it has more finesse, lower alcohol (the label says 14%, when it was traditionally 14.5%) and great balance. This has a velvety texture, with very fine and round tannins and very good freshness. There are some balsamic notes, and the wine feels undeveloped, but it has the balance and stuffing to develop nicely in bottle and for a long time.