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

Don Melchor holds a genuinely singular position in Chilean wine history — it was the country's very first icon wine, launched in 1987 as a direct tribute to Don Melchor Concha y Toro, who first planted Bordeaux varieties in the Maipo Valley back in 1883. Forbes recently named it one of the ten wines that changed the history of the global wine industry — genuine, earned recognition for a wine that essentially proved Chile could compete at the very top of the world's Cabernet Sauvignon conversation. Worth mentioning, though not dwelling on: the previous vintage, the 2021, was named Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year — a genuine watershed moment for Chilean wine broadly. But 2022 stands entirely on its own merits, and the critical reception here confirms exactly that.

The wine comes from the Don Melchor vineyard, planted in 1979 in the heart of Puente Alto, set at the foot of the Andes on the northern bank of the Maipo River, 650 meters above sea level — a site divided into 151 distinct micro-parcels, with poor, gravelly soils and a wide diurnal temperature swing that winemaker Enrique Tirado, who has overseen Don Melchor since 1997, credits directly with the wine's characteristic precision and complexity. As Tirado himself puts it: "Don Melchor's style, complexity, and elegance are the extension of the perfect balance between the rocky soils in Puente Alto, the cold winds that slide down from the Andes Mountains, the generous climate of the Maipo Valley, the number of years the vines have taken to yield their best grapes, and the meticulous and caring work of the human hand." The 2022 growing season brought unusually even, cooler-than-normal temperatures through ripening — conditions Tirado credits with a positive influence on the wine's aromatic expression. The final blend runs 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, with grapes undergoing a double selection — by cluster, then by individual berry — before fermentation, aged in French oak barrels, 78% of them new.

The critical reception has been genuinely extraordinary. James Suckling awarded 99 Points, describing "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." The Drinks Business's Patrick Schmitt matched that with 99 Points, noting "spice, and fine, dense, dry tannin to bring a mouthwatering close." Vinous's Joaquín Hidalgo scored the wine 97 Points, calling it "a more nuanced and energetic edition of Don Melchor, closing with a fairly compact finish." Tim Atkin also awarded 97 Points, describing it as "fresh yet rich and concentrated," with "delightful purity and elegance, top notes of cedarwood and graphite, layered tannins and a core of cassis, vanilla spice and black cherry." Descorchados' Patricio Tapia matched with 97 Points, noting it "stands out for its great character, energy, and finesse." Wine Spectator rounded out the sweep at 95 Points, finding it "elegant, nuanced and concentrated, with a loamy-clay cast to the fresh thyme." Enrique Tirado's own description of the 2022 captures the wine directly: "intensely expressive aromas dominated by red fruit and floral notes followed by blackcurrants and blackberries... a smooth entry evolving into mouth-filling flavours in a sumptuous wine with tremendous concentration and great energy and breadth." This is genuinely one of the most decorated wines of the vintage, from the estate that first proved Chile belonged in the world's finest wine conversation.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Don Melchor is Chile's first-ever icon wine, launched in 1987 by Concha y Toro as a tribute to Don Melchor Concha y Toro, who planted the first Bordeaux varieties in the Maipo Valley in 1883. The Don Melchor vineyard, planted in 1979, sits in the heart of Puente Alto, at the foot of the Andes on the northern bank of the Maipo River, 650 meters above sea level, divided into 151 distinct micro-parcels of poor, gravelly soil with excellent drainage — conditions that naturally stress the vines toward concentrated, complex fruit.

Winemaker Enrique Tirado has overseen Don Melchor since 1997. The 2022 vintage benefited from unusually even, cooler-than-normal temperatures during ripening, positively influencing the wine's aromatic expression. Grapes underwent a double selection process — by cluster and then by individual berry — before vinification. The final blend is 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, aged in French oak barrels, 78% of them new.

Critics Reviews

James Suckling — 99 Points:
"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.

Patrick Schmitt, The Drinks Business — 99 Points:
"There's spice, and fine, dense, dry tannin to bring a mouthwatering close too."

Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous — 97 Points:
"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. 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." Drink 2026-2040.

Tim Atkin, MW — 97 Points:
"'Fresh yet rich and concentrated' is how Enrique Tirado accurately describes the 2022 Don Melchor, the latest in an impressive run of releases of this Puente Alto icon. Youthful, focused and well structured, it's a seamless cuvée showing delightful purity and elegance, top notes of cedarwood and graphite, layered tannins and a core of cassis, vanilla spice and black cherry." Drink 2028-2040.

Patricio Tapia, Descorchados Guide 2025 — 97 Points:
"Don Melchor stands out for its great character, energy, and finesse."

Wine Spectator — 95 Points:
"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."

Enrique Tirado, CEO & Technical Director, Viña Don Melchor:
"Intensely expressive aromas dominated by red fruit and floral notes followed by blackcurrants and blackberries. On the palate, it presents a smooth entry evolving into mouth-filling flavours in a sumptuous wine with tremendous concentration and great energy and breadth."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Garnet-hued with a purplish sheen. Blackcurrant, cassis, and graphite lead, joined by currant, blackberry, ash, mint, and a subtle floral tone, alongside fresh thyme and tuberose.

Palate
Full-bodied with superb density, a smooth entry evolving into mouth-filling, sumptuous concentration. Cassis, black cherry, and vanilla spice carry through, framed by precisely calibrated, polished tannins — described by critics as having a texture "like touching a silk ball."

Finish
Very long and compact, with slightly chewy tannins that critics agree will integrate beautifully with further bottle age, closing with saline-edged acidity and lingering spice.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Lamb
• Grilled or roasted red meat
• Aged hard cheeses
• Rich, savory braises