Viña Don Melchor

Don Melchor

Chile, Maipo Valley

2021

A big gun from Puente Alto in Chile's Maipo Valley, the Don Melchor vineyard at the foot of the Andes is planted with cabernet sauvignon divided into 151 micro parcels, along with a small portion of cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot. The result is a classic Chilean cabernet combining sweet and savoury flavours that's crying out for lamb.

Don Melchor is one of Chile's most iconic cabernet sauvignons, produced from the famed Puente Alto vineyard at the foot of the Andes. Since its first vintage in 1987, it has embodied the concept of terroir‑driven Chilean cabernet.

Don Melchor Vineyard

The 2021 vintage comes from meticulously mapped plots of alluvial soils rich in gravel, which promote drainage and concentrate flavour. Parcels are harvested and vinified separately before blending, a process overseen with Bordeaux‑influenced precision. Ageing in French oak (mostly new) builds structure and aromatic refinement.

Don Melchor consistently delivers elegance, fine tannins and a mineral backbone – qualities shaped by cool Andean airflows and decades of viticultural knowledge. It remains a benchmark for Chile's premium cabernet category.

Tasting
NOTES

Offering an appealing mix of sweet and savoury flavours, on the nose you'll find black currants, blueberries, dried violets, tomato leaf, sweet tobacco, star anise and mint. The palate has an earthy attack of wet clay, bell pepper and tobacco supported by uplifting acidity and elegant, sweet tannins. With an ample mouthfeel, it finishes long and sweetly with notes of dark chocolate, cloves, vanilla and five spice. A full-bodied wine built for the long-haul.