Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a 750ml, 15% ABV Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant red wine from Puente Alto in Chile's Maipo Valley. The 2022 vintage earned 99 points from James Suckling and 97 points from Joaquín Hidalgo at Vinous, making it one of the highest-rated releases in Don Melchor's history.

Quick Facts: ABV: 15% | Origin: Puente Alto, Maipo Valley, Chile | Blend: 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot | Producer: Concha y Toro

Production & Heritage

Don Melchor traces its origins to 1987, when Concha y Toro first designated its top Puente Alto Cabernet Sauvignon as a single-vineyard release. Much of the estate is planted on its own roots from massal selection material originally brought from Bordeaux to Chile in the 1880s, and new vines are still propagated from the vineyard's oldest and best plants. The 2022 growing season was remarkably even, with stable conditions from veraison through ripening and cool nights that preserved freshness and aromatic lift. The wine was aged in French oak barrels, 78% of them new, framing the fruit without overwhelming it.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Red fruit and a subtle floral tone open the nose, followed by blackcurrant, blackberry, graphite, cedar and a touch of mint.

Taste: Full-bodied and concentrated, with cassis and black cherry at the core. Polished, precisely built tannins carry the intensity while bright acidity keeps the wine fresh and focused.

Finish: Very long, with lingering dark fruit, graphite and a cool, minty edge.

How to Drink Don Melchor 2022

Serve at 16 to 18°C (61 to 64°F) and decant for at least 45 minutes to an hour if opening now, so the layered aromatics can fully open. This is a wine built for the table. Pair with grilled ribeye steak, where the wine's polished tannins and cassis fruit mirror the char and richness of the beef. Braised lamb shoulder plays off the cedar and graphite notes. Aged Comté or Manchego draws out the wine's savory side and oak spice.

Best For

• Gifting a serious wine collector or Bordeaux enthusiast looking to explore Chile's top tier
• Anchoring a special-occasion dinner with grilled or braised red meats
• Adding a benchmark Chilean Cabernet to a cellar for long-term aging
• Hosting a comparative tasting of premium Puente Alto reds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Don Melchor 2022 taste like? Don Melchor 2022 is full-bodied and concentrated, with blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and graphite, a floral lift from the cool vintage, and polished, fine-grained tannins. The finish is very long, ending on dark fruit and mint.

How does Don Melchor compare to Almaviva? Almaviva is a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro that draws on the same Puente Alto terroir as Don Melchor, making it the most direct comparison. Don Melchor is a Cabernet Sauvignon-led single-vineyard expression of the estate, while Almaviva is built as a Bordeaux-style blend reflecting its Mouton Rothschild heritage.

Is Don Melchor 2022 good for cellaring? Yes. The concentrated fruit, polished tannins and fresh acidity of the 2022 vintage give it a long drinking window, with critics suggesting it will improve after 2028 and drink well through 2040. Decanting is recommended if opened now.

Where is Don Melchor made? Don Melchor is produced by Concha y Toro from a single vineyard in Puente Alto, a sub-region of the upper Maipo Valley at the foot of the Andes in central Chile. The estate's alluvial, rocky soils and wide day-to-night temperature swings are considered ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon.

What foods pair well with Don Melchor 2022? Grilled ribeye or filet mignon complements the wine's cassis core and firm tannins. Braised lamb shank echoes its cedar and graphite notes. Roasted duck breast bridges the wine's dark fruit and savory complexity. Aged hard cheeses like Manchego or Parmigiano-Reggiano highlight the oak spice.

What sizes does Don Melchor 2022 come in? The Liquor Barn carries Don Melchor 2022 in the standard 750ml bottle.

What scores did Don Melchor 2022 receive? The 2022 vintage earned 99 points from James Suckling and 97 points from Joaquín Hidalgo at Vinous, continuing Don Melchor's run of top critical marks.

Why Don Melchor 2022?

The 2022 vintage is among the highest-scoring releases in Don Melchor's history, with 99 points from James Suckling and 97 from Vinous. An unusually even growing season and cool nights gave the wine a fresh, floral precision alongside its trademark cassis and graphite. Its foundation of own-rooted vines descended from 1880s Bordeaux cuttings is rare in the fine wine world, and the 95% Cabernet Sauvignon blend, aged in largely new French oak, delivers a wine that is both powerful and refined. For collectors and drinkers seeking a world-class Cabernet Sauvignon rooted in irreplaceable viticultural heritage, Don Melchor 2022 is a definitive expression of Puente Alto.