ONE WINE

The distinctive character of
Don Melchor

The distinctive character of<br>Don Melchor

The beauty of the composition in Don Melchor is the intermingling of the flavors, aromas, and emotions produced by the different parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon.

It is bringing together, in a balanced way, the expression of each of the parcels. It is finding the balance that enables the expression of a place, a soil, the Andes Mountains in a single wine.

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Winemaker Enrique Tirado is one of the most influential figures in the national wine industry.

For more than 20 years he has been in charge of Don Melchor, Chile’s first icon wine and a true benchmark of the variety at the global level.

Meet the Winemaker

Historical accolades

3 vintages among the Top 10 Best Wines of the World

2001 - 2003 - 2010

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9 vintages among the Top 100 Best Wines of the World

1988 - 1993 - 2000 - 2001 - 2003 - 2005 - 2010 - 2012 - 2014

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100 points, the perfect score

2018

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8 vintages among the Top 100 Wines of the World

2010 - 2012 - 2014 - 2015 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2021

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4 times among the 100 Best Wines of Chile

2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2021

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"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." Don Melchor 2021.

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“This is amazing. The vibrancy and energy in this wine is stunning. The complexity of aromas are breathtaking with flowers, blackcurrants, raspberries and peaches. This is a testimony to balance, harmony and transparency in a great red.” Don Melchor 2018.

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“Don Melchor vineyard at the foot of the Andes, is home to the highly ambitious reds based on Cabernet Sauvignon, with Don Melchor having by far the longest and most impressive track record.”

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Vintage

2021

Vintage

This deep purple-coloured wine is aromatically very expressive, complex and intense with red fruit and berry aromas and floral notes of violets. It fills the mouth, displaying depth throughout, with a smooth entry, great energy and breadth and a long, expressive finish. With its elegant mouthfeel, this wine showcases harmony, depth and elegance.

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Accolades

99 James Suckling

97 Vinous

97 Descorchados

95 Alistair Cooper MW

96 Wine Spectator

2020

Vintage 2020

Deep violet in color, intense, and with a great aromatic complexity of red fruits together with oral notes of violets and roses. On the palate, it is a tasty wine with a so spell and a superb freshness, along with the elegance and power so characteristic of Puente Alto. It is a wine with a velvety texture, lush body, and a very long and persistent nish.

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Accolades

95 Wine Spectator

97 James Suckling

95 Vinous

92 Decanter

96 Tim Atkin

96 Descorchados

18 JancisRobinson.com

2019

Vintage 2019

Deep purplish-red in color. The wine from this vintage shows an extraordinary elegance with an abundance of fresh red fruit and notes of blackcurrants and flowers. On the palate it has an enormous wealth of flavours, with breadth from beginning to end, and plenty of energy in perfect balance with the elegance of the textures and flavours.

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Accolades

98 James Suckling

97 Tim Atkin

96 La CAV

96 Descorchados 2022

94 Wine Spectator

17,5+ Jancis Robinson

2018

Vintage 2018

2018 is one of the greatest vintages in the history of Don Melchor. A highly expressive wine, with great personality and complexity.

The wine shows lots of expression and complexity of small red fruits, as well as floral notes displayed as a whole. On the palate, the wine is full of flavor and dominated by elegance and balance, as well as a great texture of the tannins, with a long, refined finish.

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Accolades

100 pts James Suckling

98 pts Descorchados 2021

98 Pts Tim Atkin

18+ pts Jancis Robinson

97 pts Adega 

96 pts Wine & Spirits

96 pts Vinous 

95 pts Wine Spectator

95 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

94 pts Wine Enthusiast

2017

Vintage 2017

Deep cherry red in color. Don Melchor 2017 is a wine with extraordinary elegance. Full of aromas and flavors and a marked presence of red berries. On the palate, ther are strong notes of Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto, with fine and delicate tannins, while also providing a good density and long-lasting finish.

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Accolades

95 pts Wine Enthusiast

94 pts Wine & Spirits

94 pts Vinous

94+ pts Robert Parker's

95 pts Wine Spectator

99 pts James Suckling

94 pts Tim Atkin

18 pts Jancis Robinson

2016

Vintage 2016

This very elegant wine presents tremendous aromatic expression with a predominance of small red fruit notes. It starts smooth and is friendly on the palate and continues with perfectly balanced flavours and a long finish, where the balance and delicacy of the tannins reappear with great expression of this vintage’s lively fruit.

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Accolades

96 pts James Suckling

96 pts Descorchados 2019

95 pts Wine & Spirits

94 pts Wine Spectator

94 pts Tim Atkin

94 pts Robert Parker's

93 pts Wine Enthusiast

90 pts Decanter

16,5 pts Jancis Robinson

2015

Vintage 2015

Deep cherry red in color, this wine captivates with its balanced, depth, and complexity. The aromas of red fruits delicately intermingle with mineral notes that recall cold ashes and pencil lead. Fine, delicate textures appear on the palate and show this to be an ample, deep wine with a smooth, fine attack followed by an intense, mouth-lling evolution. Concentrated, expressive, and generous in flavors and aromas with a long nish dominated by the balance and elegance of the various layers of flavors.

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Accolades

98 pts James Suckling

96 pts Decanter

96 pts Tim Atkin

96 pts Wine Spectator

95 pts Descorchados 2018

94 pts Wine Enthusiast

93 pts Robert Parker's

18+ pts Jancis Robinson

17 pts Jancis Robinson

2014

Vintage 2014

Excellent expression of Cabernet Sauvignon’s characteristic red fruit aromas followed by mineral notes of ash and pencil lead. Great complexity on the palate with outstanding concentration and freshness accompanied by velvety tannins.

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Accolades

98 pts James Suckling

96 pts Wine Spectator

95 pts Descorchados 2018

94 pts Decanter

94 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

94 pts Wine.com

18,5 pts Jancis Robinson

2013

Vintage 2013

Deep cherry red. A wine with tremendous aromatic complexity and a heightened expression of Cabernet fruit. Highly concentrated and persistent on the palate. Fresh, with smooth, fine, and delicate tannins and excellent balance.

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Accolades

97 pts Tim Atkin

96 pts Descorchados 2017

97 pts James Suckling

95 pts LA CAV

93 pts Wine & Spirits

93 pts Wine Spectator

93 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

92 pts Wine Enthusiast

17+ pts Jancis Robinson

2012

Vintage 2012

This deep cherry red wine is very expressive in red fruits. e smooth attack leads to good structure with an evolution that shows fresh aromas and flavors. Red berry fruit and spicy notes stand out on the long finish.

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Accolades

98 pts James Suckling

95 pts Wine Spectator

95 pts LA CAV

94 pts Jeannie Cho Lee

93 pts Decanter

93 pts Evan Saviolidis

92 pts Anthony Gismondi

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Wine Enthusiast

92 pts Descorchados 2016

92 pts Descorchados 2016

91 pts Wine Align

91 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

17,5+ pts Jancis Robinson

2011

Vintage 2011

A complex and elegant wine with notes of pencil lead, red fruits, and chocolate on the nose. The palate presents soft tannins and a silky, well-balanced texture, opening to layers of aromas and flavors that provide the wine tremendous concentration, depth, and final complexity.

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Accolades

Gold Medal Wine100 2016 (China)

96 pts Tasting Panel Mag.com

95 pts Adega

95 pts WineReviewOnline.com

95 pts Decanter

95 pts Descorchados 2015

95 pts James Suckling

94 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

94 pts Wine Spectator

93 pts Anthony Gismondi

93 pts Wine Enthusiast

92 pts Wine Align

18 pts Jancis Robinson

2010

Vintage 2010

A very complex and elegant wine with notes of pencil lead and red fruit. Deep dark color and balanced palate, with a long finish. e texture of smooth, fine, elegant tannins lend great concentration and density, forming layers of flavors and aromas.

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Accolades

96 pts James Suckling

95 pts LA CAV

95 pts Wine Spectator

95 pts Descorchados 2014

94 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

94 pts Adega

94 pts Wine Align

94 pts Wine & Spirits

93 pts Wine Enthusiast

87 pts Decanter

18 pts Jancis Robinson

2009

Vintage 2009

Deep cherry red in color with outstanding blackcurrant and blackberry aromas with chocolate notes. e palate starts with a mild attack, followed by a dense evolution with silky tannins and a growing sensation of freshness and intense acidity that lead to a crisp and lively long finish.

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Accolades

94 pts James Suckling

94 pts Wine Spectator

94 pts Le Pan Media

93 pts Descorchados 2013

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Wine Enthusiast

91 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

18 pts Jancis Robinson

2008

Vintage 2008

Deep cherry red. Elegant and complex, with aromas of red fruits and notes of cedar, tobacco, and chocolate. the well- structured palate has good body and is pleasingly concentrated and firm, and the finish is long and well balanced.

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Accolades

93 pts Vinous

94 pts Wine Spectator

93 pts Wine Enthusiast

93 pts Wine Align

93 pts Wine & Spirits

93 pts Descorchados 2012

92 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

91 pts Anthony Gismondi

83 pts Decanter

17 pts Jancis Robinson

2007

Vintage 2007

Intense ruby red. Very expressive and intense. Tremendous complexity with notes of fruit, graphite, and spices followed by blueberries,blackcurrant, coffee, and chocolate. Dense, smooth, and lush at the onset followed by a concentrated, meaty, dense evolution with potency and elegance at the same time. Very well balanced with a persistent finish that shows tremendous fruit intensity.

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Accolades

96 pts Decanter

94+ pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

93 pts Wine Enthusiast

93 pts James Suckling

93 pts Wine Align

93 pts Le Pan Media

93 pts Wine Spectator

92 pts Stephentanzer.com

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Descorchados 2011

17+ pts Jancis Robinson

2006

Vintage 2006

Intense ruby red. Expressive and complex with notes of chocolate, black cherries, and ripe plums that intermingle with aromas of coffee and blackcurrants. The expression of red fruits continues on the palate in a dense and mouth-lling wine with fine, ripe tannins that lend tremendous concentration and lead to a long, expansive finish.

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Accolades

95 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

94 pts Wine Spectator

94 pts Wine Enthusiast

92 pts Wine Align

92 pts Vinous

91 pts Adega

91 pts Descorchados 2010

91 pts Wine & Spirits

87 pts Decanter

17+ pts Jancis Robinson

2005

Vintage 2005

Intense ruby red in color. The first aromas recall sweet red fruits, such as cherries and blackcurrants, followed by notes of graphite, pencil lead, and chocolate. The expression of red fruits continues on the palate in this dense and mouth-lling wine with outstanding fine, ripe tannins.

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Accolades

96 pts Decanter

96 pts Wine Spectator

94 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

93 pts Wine Enthusiast

91 pts Wine & Spirits

91 pts Wine Align

17,5 pts Jancis Robinson

2004

Vintage 2004

Deep red cherry. Complex and elegant with red fruit, prunes, spices and cassis mingle with hints of chocolate, tobacco and cedar. Red fruits are also prominent on the palate. Striking tannin ripeness adds to the wine’s concentration and body, and also contributes its elegance and harmony.

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Accolades

94+ pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

93 pts Wine Spectator

93 pts Descorchados 2008

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Wine Enthusiast

91 pts Vinous

91 pts Anthony Gismondi

16,5 ++ pts Jancis Robinson

2003

Vintage 2003

Deep cherry red with tremendous complexity and elegance. Notes of blackcurrant and other ripe black fruits that meld with blackberry jam and blueberries and followed by notes of cedar, spices, chocolate, and tobacco. Generous and elegant with good harmony. Well structured with firm, ripe tannins. A lush and dense wine with good volume. Seductive from beginning to end.

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Accolades

96 pts Wine Spectator

94 pts Decanter

93 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

91 pts Wine & Spirits

91 pts Descorchados 2007

90 pts Wine Enthusiast

17,5 pts Jancis Robinson

2002

Vintage 2002

Intense ruby red in color with tremendous expression of black fruits, plums, chocolate, and blackcurrants, with notes of coffee that lend great complexity to the wine. The palate is well structured very balanced, with smooth, ripe tannins that lead to a very good and lingering finish.

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Accolades

96 pts Decanter

93 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Wine Spectator

91 pts Wine Enthusiast

90 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

88 pts Anthony Gismondi

16 ++ Jancis Robinson

2001

Vintage 2001

Intense ruby red with tremendous aromatic expression and complexity recalling fruits, pencil lead, and ash. Smooth attack with very-integrated tannins in their evolution. Highly concentrated with controlled potential and a long, mouth-lling finish. Great personality and expression in this vintage.

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Accolades

95 pts Wine Spectator

93 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Descorchados 2005

91 pts James Suckling

88 pts Decanter

18 pts Jancis Robinson

2000

Vintage 2000

The intense ruby red color prepares us for the tremendous expression of red fruits and the notes of Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto that this wine exudes. Ripe young tannins on the palate lend the wine great balance and a pleasing finish. Like every vintage of Don Melchor, this one stands out for its elegance and the complexity of aromas and avors accompanied by good concentration and results in a wine that will evolve very well over time.

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Accolades

94 pts Wine Spectator

92 pts Decanter

91 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

90 pts Guía de Vinos de Chile 2004

16,5 pts pts Jancis Robinson

1999

Vintage 1999

Intense ruby red with outstanding aromatic elegance. Notes of ripe fruits and berries are the first step in the tremendous complexity that appears in the glass, followed by notes of tobacco, coffee, and chocolate, all very well melded with vanilla. The palate shines for its ripe and friendly tannins and a pleasingly long finish with great harmony and balance. The elegance of this vintage speaks of Puente Alto in all its glory.

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Accolades

92 pts Vinous

93 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

92 pts Wine Spectator

92 pts Decanter

91 pts Wine Enthusiast

90 pts Anthony Gismondi

88 pts Wine & Spirits

18 pts Jancis Robinson

1998

Vintage 1998

Deep ruby red. Aromas of chocolate, ripe plums, and menthol are all immediately perceptible in the wine, followed by notes of blackcurrant, berries, and vanilla, which lend great aromatic complexity. Well balanced and pleasing on the palate with great harmony and elegance, while the ripe tannins deliver concentration and persistence.

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Accolades

95 pts Decanter

90 pts Anthony Gismondi

89 pts Wine Spectator

89 pts Wine & Spirits

88 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

87 pts Wine Enthusiast

16,5 pts Jancis Robinson

1997

Vintage 1997

Deep ruby red with aromas of ripe plums, blackcurrant, chocolate, and tobacco accompanied by menthol and vanilla notes. Fine, elegant, and complex with ripe tannins that lend great volume and persistence.

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Accolades

97 pts Decanter

94 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Anthony Gismondi

90 pts Wine Spectator

88 pts Wine Enthusiast

17 pts Jancis Robinson

1996

Vintage 1996

Deep ruby-red, the nose recalled red fruit, chocolate, tobacco and hints of vanilla. The palate is fine, elegant, full-bodied, with firm tannins and a complex and pleasant finish.

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Accolades

96 pts Decanter

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Adega

90 pts Wine Spectator

89 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

89 pts Wine Spectator

17 pts Jancis Robinson

1995

Vintage 1995

Dark and intense garnet red with aromas of plums, vanilla, chocolate, and tobacco with a light menthol note. A very complex, round, mouth-filling wine with firm tannins that deliver volume and persistence.

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Accolades

92 pts Wine & Spirits

92 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

92 pts Anthony Gismondi

90 pts Wine Spectator

83 pts Decanter

17 pts Jancis Robinson

1994

Vintage 1994

Fresh fruit, dried plums, berries, cinnamon, and a touch of menthol on the nose. Voluminous and complex on the palate with firm tannins and a lingering finish.

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Accolades

95 pts Decanter

90 pts Wine Spectator

90 pts Anthony Gismondi

89 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

16 pts Jancis Robinson

1993

Vintage 1993

Intense, deep red with aromas of red fruits, chocolate, and tobacco intermingled with notes of vanilla on the nose. Smooth, deep, and balanced on the palate with tremendous elegance.

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Accolades

93 pts Wine & Spirits

91 pts Wine Spectator

91 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

85 pts Decanter

17 pts Jancis Robinson

1992

Vintage 1992

Dark red in color, with plums and cherries on the nose and a bit of menthol and chocolate, all melded with elegant aromas of vanilla. Smooth, round, and balanced on the elegant palate with tremendous persistence.

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Accolades

89 pts Wine Spectator

72 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

16 pts Jancis Robinson

1991

Vintage 1991

Deep red. Dried plums, vanilla, chocolate, tobacco, and light menthol notes. Great complexity and expression on the palate. Ripe tannins lend tremendous volume, elegance, and a persistent finish.

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Accolades

94 pts Decanter

91 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

87 pts/ 86 pts Wine Spectator

17 pts Jancis Robinson

1990

Vintage 1990

Orangish red in color with ochre notes, Aromas of coffee, herbs, and spices with balsamic notes. The palate starts fresh with a certain presence of tannins. The evolution is concentrated and the tannins appear firmer than they did initially. The finish is long and very persistent.

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Accolades

95 pts Decanter

88 pts / 84 pts Wine Spectator

82 pts Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

16,5 pts Jancis Robinson

1989

Vintage 1989

Red with an orangish hue. Fine, complex aromas of red fruits such as blackcurrant on the nose with a touch of menthol and vanilla. A splendid expression of elegance and complexity with a lovely and persistent finish.

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Accolades

16 pts Jancis Robinson

17,5 pts Jancis Robinson

75 pts Robert Parker's

86 pts Decanter

86 pts / 78 pts Wine Spectator

93 pts Adega

1988

Vintage 1988

Orangish red with notes of red fruits, coffee, chocolate, smoke, and spices. On the palate, the attack is smooth, followed by firm tannins that lend life and nerve to the wine, ending with a long and pleasing finish.

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Accolades

83 pts / 91 pts Wine Spectator

16 pts Jancis Robinson

89 pts Robert Parker's

91 pts Wine & Spirits

93 pts Robert Parker's

96 pts Decanter

1987

Vintage 1987

Deep cherry red. A wine with tremendous aromatic complexity and a heightened expression of Cabernet fruit. Highly concentrated and persistent on the palate. Fresh, with smooth, fine, and delicate tannins and excellent balance.

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Accolades

16,5 pts Jancis Robinson

86/87 pts Wine Spectator

87 pts Robert Parker's

88 pts Decanter

Our Winemaking Process

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Vinification

Only ripe, intact, and healthy grapes are selected to continue on to the following stage, which takes place in small stainless steel fermentation tanks. Special care is taken at all times with temperatures and pumpovers in each tank. The color and tannins come from the skins and seeds through a delicate maceration.

After fermentation, the skins and seeds are pressed to conserve the maximum quality of the tannins.

Blending

A new vintage of Don Melchor begins when the percentages of the many lots of Cabernet Sauvignon from the different parcels in the vineyard are defined to go into the final blend. Any given lot may make up only 60–65% of the final.

The Boissenot family has been involved in this process since Don Melchor began and work closely with winemaker Enrique Tirado. Originally it was through Jacques Boissenot, the renowned French advisor and consultant to the most celebrated châteaux in Bordeaux, and now it is through his son, Eric Boissenot, who has continued his father’s legacy. Every year, Enrique Tirado and Eric Boissenot meet in the small town of Lamarque, in Bordeaux, France, to taste approximately 125 lots from the vineyard to select the ones they will use—and the precise percentage of each—that will define a new vintage of Don Melchor.

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Barrel and Bottle Aging

Once the final blend has been determined, the new vintage of Don Melchor is placed into oak barrels from the Allier, Tronçais, and Nevers forests in France. Nearly two-thirds of the barrels are new, and the remaining third have had one previous use. After a period of 12–15 months, the wine is bottled and continues to age for another year to develop the complexity and elegance characteristic of Don Melchor.