Tasting Notes

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.

Food Pairing

Red meats, especially lamb or wild game prepared with different cooking methods, such as roasted or braised and served with sauces made with red wine, mushrooms, rosemary, and tomatoes, among others. Assorted terrines and patés, especially duck with truffles. Cows or goat milk cheeses, dry, aged or creamy cheeses.

Climate

In general, the vineyard has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with an average rainfall of 350 mm per year. It is planted in one of the coldest sectors of the Alto Maipo Valley. This season was the coldest in the history of Don Melchor, and this, along with harvesting 10 days later than usual, allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and reach the end of the season with exceptionally well-ripened tannins along with very good fruit expression, freshness, and personality.

The 2012–2013 season received 357.3 mm of precipitation, and the average temperature was 13.5°C.

Vinification

The fruit from each vineyard block was vinified separately in small-volume stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation lasted 10 days at 26ºC with 4–6 pumpovers per day. Upon completion the tanks were hermetically sealed for 11 days post-fermentation maceration at 23º–25ºC for greater extraction of smoother tannins. The Don Melchor winemakers and viticulturist determined the duration of the post-fermentation maceration by enological tastings. All of the lots of wines are later tasted and selected to make the final blend, which is then aged in French oak barrels.