Don Melchor is the flagship Cabernet Sauvignon of Viña Concha y Toro, one of Chile’s most historic and influential wine estates. Sourced from the celebrated Puente Alto vineyard in the Alto Maipo Valley, often described as Chile’s unofficial “first growth” terroir, the wine has been crafted since 1987 and is dedicated to expressing the site’s classical Cabernet identity.
Over the years, Don Melchor has become a benchmark for South American fine wine, shaped under the long-term stewardship of winemaker Enrique Tirado, whose meticulous parcel-by-parcel approach and commitment to elegance define the house style. Each vintage is a blend drawn from dozens of micro-terroirs within Puente Alto, uniting precision with a sense of place.
The 2020 Don Melchor opens with a refined but vibrant aromatic profile, cool graphite, dried herbs, and subtle floral lift layered over deep blackcurrant and red-berry tones. On the palate, the wine shows impressive harmony for such a challenging, hot, and dry vintage.
The fruit feels fresh and lively, framed by fine, persistent tannins that give structure without weight. Flavors of cassis, fig, wild raspberry, and a touch of savoury spice unfold gradually, with well integrated oak that adds polish rather than dominance.
There’s a graceful tension between richness and precision, leading to a long, mineral-tinged finish that speaks clearly of Puente Alto’s gravelly soils. Already expressive, the wine age well.