TN: 2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor

WINE TALK
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  • 2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor (Private Reserve) - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (11/23/2009)
    Cocoa, coffee and some slight minty earth notes on the nose. Seems to be pretty tight on the palate and a lot of the Don Melchor I’ve been having lately has had a little bit of a vegetal green streak running through it that isn’t really appealing to me. I much preferred the 01-03 vintages of this wine over the 04-05 that I have had. Can’t say that I am overly impressed with this 05. It did improve a bit on the second night but not enough for me to be very excited about the other bottle I have. I’ll probably lose that one in the back of the cellar and see if I can try it again in about 5 or more years.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Count me as a fan of the 2005. Yes, it can have a green streak, but to me it isn’t a negative. I will agree that '01 & '03 are far better wines.

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thanks for the data point, rob. [basic-smile.gif]

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I don’t recall that green streak in the 01 and 03 vintages. Perhaps that’s why I enjoyed them so much more.

Of course, it may integrate into the wine with time and improve the complexity. Only time will tell.

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I think it will…at least I hope it will since I have a half case worth of magnums.

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2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor - Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (7/5/2017)
– decanted 1.5 hours before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over a few hours –
– 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc –

NOSE: ripe fruit aromas — more red-fruited than purple-fruited, but it is a mix of the two; a bit sweet; medium sweet oak note.

BODY: some sediment; dark blood red color of great depth with a hint of bricking throughout; medium-full bodied.

TASTE: ripe; oaky; medium-low acidity; soft tannins; non-descript and a bit lush; lacks energy; hint of smoky leather after some time in the glass; maybe better in 5 years?; when paired with steak and a caramelized onion risotto: smoky coffee note emerges; much better with food than without; with the food, this actually turns into an impressive wine — one that I dare say is a poor man’s LLC. gut impression scores: without food: high 80’s; with food: low 90’s. Because this is still mostly primary, and because of the impressive presentation with food, this continues to be a wine that I should Hold.

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Are these worth the $$$ ?

Never nibbled at them.

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I have not tasted the “Don Melchor”, yet the recent vintages of the Concha y Toro “Marques de Casa Concha” have been more and more lightly crafted/stylized.

Here’s a cool video of Marcelo Papa discussing soils:

http://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/video/entry/a-tasting-of-cabernet-from-alluvial-soils-with-marcelo-papa

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Tonight with grilled tri tip…if I can find it in the cellar.

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2005 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor - Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (8/5/2025)
– decanted 25 min. before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over a couple hrs. –

NOSE: high-toned dark-fruited goodness! a bit earthy, with a hint of V/A; no pencil shavings or brett. Expressive.

BODY: perfect cork; fill into the neck; youthful violet-garnet color of great depth — maybe a little hint of bricking, but on appearances, alone, I would not be guessing this to be twenty years old. Medium bodied.

TASTE: wow — lots of menthol! Some leathery horsiness; cherry cough drop mixed with dark berries; a bit earthy; plenty of tertiary development here, but nowhere near dead; smoking jacket and dark cherry cough drops; labelled at 14% abv, and it is perhaps a touch hot on the back end; tannins have almost completely resolved, with just a bit still hanging around; in its prime window. My penultimate bottle. Paid $60 way back in 2008, and I really like it at that price, but the current going rate interests me not-at-all. Excellent. I don’t see room for further improvement, so Drink Now.

50, 5, 13, 17, 8 = (93 pts.)