Concha y Toro Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 750ml

Ashy graphite, cassis, iron, blackberries and a hint of cigar box and chocolate. Lots of violets, too. Rich and intense with a full-bodied palate. Showing density and very fine but structured tannins. Long and intense finish with lots of flavors. 93% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc and 3% merlot. One of the best over the last few years. Drinkable now, but will fledge and hold very well in the next 20 years.

Blackcurrants, cassis and graphite on the nose. Pure and fragrant. Full-bodied with superb density and tannins that are so polished. The texture is like touching a silk ball. Its finish is very long and compact with slightly chewy tannins, but it will come together beautifully with time in the bottle. Try after 2028.

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor originates from a vineyard planted in the heart of the Puente Alto region in 1979. This is renowned Cabernet Sauvignon terroir, characterized by the perfect balance of temperatures and poor gravel soils. The 2022 was aged in French oak barrels, with 78% of them being new. Garnet-hued with a purplish sheen, it offers complex aromas of currant, blackberry, ash, mint and a subtle floral tone that can be attributed to the cold vintage. Dry, rich and moderately juicy, the precisely calibrated tannins of Maipo Valley and the clear fruit impart the palate with intensity and agility. This is a more nuanced and energetic edition of Don Melchor, closing with a fairly compact finish.

This Cabernet exemplifies the elegance of wines from Puente Alto in the Maipo Valley. Aromas of graphite and perfectly ripe berries emerge from the glass. It offers depth, freshness and silky tannins, providing structure to a balanced mix of fruit and spice. Notes of licorice and rosemary add to its complexity. The savory finish is marked by a lingering hint of tobacco. Drink now through 2038 and beyond.

A remarkable effort that channels the finesse of the vintage with rich, muscular edges, offering a base of graphite and cassis notes that gather around elegant layers of dried rosemary and white pepper. The richly textured core of raspberry and plum flavors show precision and just enough acidity to keep things sailing onto the finish around well-integrated tannins and touches of cocoa. Best from 2026 through 2040. 18,300 cases made, 5,000 cases imported.

The 2021 Don Melchor is, to my palate, the most classic and timeless iteration presented in this vertical. It opens with a well-balanced, composed and textbook bouquet of cigar box, fresh herbs, blackberries and pencil shavings. On the palate, it is sumptuous yet elegant, combining a sleek, refined texture with the soft, gentle richness that is characteristic of this blend. It concludes with a graphite-driven, chiseled finish framed by chocolate-tinged tannins and lasting persistence. It's a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot that spent 15 months in 68% new barrels, the rest second-use.

Elegant, nuanced and concentrated, with a loamy-clay cast to the fresh thyme and subtle tuberose aromas, which give way to a rich yet balanced core of blackberry and cassis notes lifted by saline-edged acidity. Wonderfully fresh while moving toward the finish, where the flavors come together and linger harmoniously around well-formed tannins. Drink now through 2040. 17,800 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.