VIÑA DON MELCHOR, CABERNET SAUVIGNON, PUENTE ALTO
MAIPO VALLEY, CHILE 2020
Love your Cabernets big and powerful? We've got you.
Our featured wine today hails from none other than the great Don Melchor, the first Chilean producer ever to earn its way onto Wine Spectator's prestigious Top 100 List. Since that initial honor, in 1988, Don Melchor has made the list an astonishing 8 times, recorded a 100-point score, and joined the conversation as one of the finest producers of Bordeaux varietals not just in all of Chile but in all of the world.
Simply put, no discussion of the glories of New World winemaking can be had without a mention of Don Melchor.
And the 2020 vintage only adds another thrilling chapter to the story of this legendary estate.
James Suckling awarded it 97 points, hailing it as a "serious ... direct" expression with "fine-grained tannins" and a "long and deep" finish. Vinous called it "aromatic" and "intense," writing, in a 95-point paean, that its "juicy freshness and young tannins ... will grow deeper in the bottle."
We are thrilled to have obtained a small allocation of this exceptional wine, and just as thrilled to be able to extend a limited-time price to our Concierge Family.
To understand the extraordinary success of this estate over three decades, all it takes is one glimpse of its vineyards. Situated in the Puente Alto D.O., at the foot of the Andes Mountains, the eponymous Don Melchor vineyard sits at more than 2,000 feet above sea level. High elevation is essential, as we all know, to the production of any wine that has ambitions of becoming world-class. But the Don Melchor vineyard has more that altitude going for it. The 30+ year old Cabernet Sauvignon vines are from a pre-phylloxera selection brought to Chile from Bordeaux in the late 19th century. The Bordeaux connection extends to the cellar, as well. Operations at the estate are overseen by the renowned Bordeaux consultants Jacques and Eric Boissenot, in conjunction with award-winning winemaker Enrique Tirado.
There's a reason, in other words, that every sip seems to be an almost perfect balancing act between Old World and New.
Composed, primarily, of Cabernet Sauvignon, with small percentages of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, and aged for 15 months in French oak, the 2020 offers a marvelous blend of elegance and energy.
Both Suckling and Vinous started its drinking window next year, in 2024. We saw a wine that is this close to being ready, classical and structured, but also bursting with red fruits, dried herbs, soft spices, graphite, and earth. A wine that will only get better and better with age.
Don't miss this opportunity to fill your cellar with a pedigreed Cabernet that's as big and long as they come — order yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2023. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in CA, CO, FL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MN, MO, NC, SC, TX, VA, and WI. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Tuesday, February 14, 2023.
*Due to limited storage space for pre-ordered product, we can only hold orders for 30 days from the first notification that your order is ready for pickup. If you are unable to pick up your order within 30 days, please contact Concierge Sales at (855) 841-2752 or conciergesales@totalwine.com to make an arrangement. A store associate may reach out periodically to notify you of your order. Unfortunately, if no arrangements have been made, after 30 days, the order will need to be cancelled and we will provide a full refund. No orders will be cancelled without multiple communication attempts.