Description
Critical Acclaim
96 points Decanter
Tirado fine-tuned the riper style of Don Melchor even more. Youthful and powerful, for better or worse, the mintiness is gone, replaced by hints of cedar, tobacco and minerals. Long and precise, it’s a very pretty, but tight, youthful wine. (MA)
94 points Wine Advocate
The 2005 Don Melchor was cropped from an almost perfect year, when the grapes were picked between April 11 and May 19 in a slightly warmer year that provided powerful wines. The bottled wine was Cabernet Sauvignon with some 3% Cabernet Franc and had been matured in French oak barrels for 15 months, with 70% new barrels and the rest second use. Somehow this vintage had never been rated before, and I’m glad I did because it’s a very good year, with average rain and not so high temperature, with a combination of power and finesse, notes of ash, earth, red and black fruit and a powerful palate. You see more the hand of a good winemaker here; there is very good balance, quality of tannins and freshness. This has balance, finesse and energy. It’s evolving at a very slow pace, and it should continue aging forever in bottle. (LG)
93 points Wine Enthusiast
It’s very ripe, with oak sitting atop pure cassis and plum aromas. The palate is sweet, juicy and packed with dynamite blackberry and black plum flavors. Dark, chocolaty and long on the finish, with ripe tannins. (MS)
92 points Wine Spectator
Crisp and refined, with minerally richness to the dark currant, dried cranberry and cherry flavors, backed by vibrant acidity. Dried mint and spice notes linger with dark chocolate details on the fresh finish. *Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2008, Highly Recommended* (KM, web-2020)
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