TNs: 2004 Don Melchor

WINE TALK
#1
  • 2004 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (5/30/2009)
    – decanted for two hours before tasting –
    – tasted non-blind over 1 hour –
    – 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc –

NOSE: Expressive bouquet of underbrush and smoke with an element of rubber; some oak, but not overbearing; deep red fruits hiding in the shadows of this earthy bouquet.

BODY: garnet color of great depth; medium bodied.

TASTE: like its bouquet, this is very earthy on the palate; smoke, underbrush and leather; loganberry fruit and a pleasing touch of funk; healthy tannic grip; this wine has gone almost nowhere since the last bottle I had about 8 months ago. Drinks great now, but will certainly improve with time. Will I be able to keep my hands off my other couple bottles?? I really wish I would have loaded-up big-time on this wine.

B: 50, 5, 13, 16, 8 = (92 pts.)

– 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc –

NOSE: initially this wine featured expressive aromas of chocolate, sweet leather and dusty blackberries; a strong vegetal streak is there too; with additional air time the bouquet opened to reveal hints of coffee, anise, and raspberry jam. This got more and more appealing the longer the bottle was open.

BODY: dark garnet color of great depth; fine particulate matter is suspended in the wine; medium-full bodied.

TASTE: initially, this wine’s flavor profile mirrored it’s bouqet, exhibiting sweet leather, bramble, and a hint of funk. This wine seemed to turn a corner and really blossom after being decanted for 45-60 min.: the palate fleshed out as pleasing notes of woodsy spice (cigar wrapper) came forward; this is well-balanced with a medium-length finish. There is a hole at the rear mid-palate, but I would expect this to fill-in with time. This bottle was increasingly intriguing from start to end, and its evolution in those two short hours suggests an interesting 15-20 years of life lie ahead.

B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 9 = (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

#2

Thanks for the TN. I have one of these and have had to force myself from opening it.

#3

the price on the 06 went up, even costco is 60+. Too bad. I enjoyed the 05 greatly at $50 =(
Thanks for the note !

#4

I enjoyed one of these about 6 months ago and had impressions similar to yours. I have three more and plan to hold them for a few more years.

Did you notice a green streak in the wine? I recall that I did, but in a good way.

#5

I had three bottles of this and all three had a GIANT green streak in them that made the wine practically undrinkable. Sad considering how much I enjoyed all the other vintages I’ve had. I have a couple of 05s and frankly I am scared to open them for fear that they will be like the 04s I had.

#6

I did in the bouquet of the one I drank on 9/13/2008 (see above). I did not notice that this time around, however.

Yoni,
Try to hold off for a few years … move it to off-site, if it’s not there already. I have a couple more – I’m going to do my best not to touch another one for at least 5 years. It will be tough b/c it tastes so damn good right now.

#7

Bought a couple of magnums in OWC from Costco for $75 and still have them. Also have a case (6 bottles) of the 03. Drank all my 05’s, did not purchase any of the 06’s due to price.

Thanks for the great note Brian.

Otto

#8

Any recent notes on the 05?

#9

none from me, but there’s plenty here: http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=377930" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would be awfully interested in reading any more '05 TN’s, as I have a few of those stowed away as well. [cheers.gif]

#10

I like this one “rated 90 points: Drinkable.”
Lot’s of help from this note!

I think i will be patient.

#11

Not particularly my style of wine, but I ordered off a restaurant list for my Mom and I after a very stressful day. Mom is not really a red wine person, but I figured that the usual core sweetness/etc of these kind of wines would work. She loved it, so I can pretty conclusively say there is no greeness in there whatsoever.

Had had it another time and it is very good at what it does.

A.

#12

I had the 2003 last week with my wife and in-law. Drinking well, though could use a bit more time. I did not detect a green streak, though I am not even sure what that is supposed to taste like. Nice cab for $40 (went well with the Bryan’s rib-eye).

#13

Hi Mike,

I never wrote the note in CT (got lazy). I had the wine in the decanter for 2 hours and had very similar notes as bubbachumps