Master class: Don Melchor de Concha y Toro

1. November 2014

2. Chile’s Unique Geography
• Length of the country: 5.300 km.
• Width of the country: 150 km
• Independence: 1810 (from Spain)
• Population: 16.746.491
• Capital City: Santiago
• Isolated by 4 natural barriers

7. THE INFLUENCE OF SEA CURRENTS - THE
HUMBOLDT CURRENT - ON CHILE’S CLIMATE.
HUMBOLDT
CURRENT ANDES
MOUNTAINS

8. SEA BREEZES
COLD BREEZES
CHILE’S UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY HAS AN IDEAL MEDITERRANEAN CLIMATE.

9. CONCHA Y TORO AT
A GLANCE

10. 10
VIÑA CONCHA Y TORO
1883 FOUNDATION
OF VIÑA CONCHA Y TORO IN PIRQUE
131
YEARS OF HISTORY
CHILE’S LEADING WINE PRODUCER

11. 1994
FIRST WINERY IN THE WORLD
TO TRADE IN THE NYSE
11
1996
1997
JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN
CONCHA Y TORO AND BARON
PHILIPPE DE ROTHSCHILD
VIÑA CONCHA Y TORO
EXPANSION TO ARGENTINA
TRIVENTO WINERY

12. 2010
MANCHESTER UNITED
PARTNERSHIP
2011
ACQUISITION IN CALIFORNIA OF
FETZER VINEYARDS
12
VIÑA CONCHA Y TORO
2000
BRAND BUILDING & STRENGTHENING
GLOBAL REACH

13. GLOBAL COMPANY & LEADERSHIP
Wine sales 2013:
30.3MM cases
70% Exports
145countries
Market Sales under
share:
66,5%
35%
Chilean exports
own
distribution
Chile’s first
global brand
Market share
30%
Domestic
market

14. COMMITMENT TO QUALITY
2nd
World
vineyard
owner
Sales under
66,5%
own
distribution
Total hectares planted:
10.750 ha.

15. RECOGNIZED BY THE INDUSTRY
#1 MOST ADMIRED
WINE BRANDS IN THE WORLD
(September 2011)
BRAND COUNTRY
1. CONCHA Y TORO CHILE
2. Torres Spain
3. Jacob’s Creek Australia
4. Antinori Italy
5. Penfolds Australia
6. Cloudy Bay New Zealand
7. Chateau Lafite France
8. Vega Sicilia Spain
9. Marqués de Riscal Spain
10. Château Latour France
15

17. THE PUENTE ALTO TERROIR

18. MAIPO RIVER
SANTIAGO
N
N
S
ANDES MONTAINS

19. ANDES MONTAINS
N S
MAIPO RIVER
SANTIAGO
DON MELCHOR
VINEYARD

20. N S
MAIPO RIVER
SANTIAGO
DON MELCHOR
VINEYARD
FIRST T
SECOND T
THIRD T
ANDES MONTAINS

21. SOIL
• The soil at Puente Alto is geologically alluvial in origin
and, more specifically, alluvial terraces of the Maipo
River. The formation of these terraces is the result of
glacial episodes during the Quaternary period.
• Volcanism (in the form of volcanic ash) and tectonic
movements also played a part In the formation of these
soils.
• The Don Melchor vineyards are found on the third, the
farthest terrace from the Maipo River
• A little further North and higher up from the Maipo
River, terraces are older, and soils show great
viticulture potential, since they contain more clays.

23. SOIL: Maipo River

24. CLIMATE
• Puente Alto has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate.
• This means there are four well-marked seasons.
• Good spring and summer temperatures.
• Strong Andes Mountain influence: non-extreme
temperatures and cold nights
• Rainfall concentrated between April and October.

25. At the foot of the Andes mountain range, the Eastern edge is cooler,
since it receives cold nocturnal breezes from the Andes.
COASTAL RANGE
COASTAL PLAIN
ANDES
MOUNTAIN
INTERMEDIATE
DEPRESSION
General overview of Chile’s central area
PACIFIC
OCEAN

26. MONTHLY MAXIMUM AND
MINIMUM TEMPERATURES ºC, 1987
18.2
- 2013
15.514.816.1
18.3
21.7
25.2
27.829.128.326.6
22.1
4.6 4.2 3.1 3.9 5.7 7.3 9.1 10.311.611.39.6
6.8
32.0
28.0
24.0
20.0
16.0
12.0
8.0
4.0
0.0
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
Temp Max Temp Min

27. DON MELCHOR CLIMATE
1987 - 2013

28. AVERAGE TEMPERATURES - °C
17.0
16.516.4
17.717.7
18.1
16.916.716.816.7
16.116.316.4
17.9
16.8
16.2
18.3
17.117.217.2
16.2
19.3
17.8
17.6
17.317.317.5
18.2
18.7
18.1
17.3
16.8
16.416.4
18.4
17.717.9
17.2
18.4
17.917.8
19.4
17.617.417.717.9
18.718.618.518.8
18.5
19.6
17.817.7
15.6
14.7
14.114.013.914.114.314.214.414.514.5
14.6
14.3
15.0
14.0
15.3
15.015.2
15.1
14.8
15.4
15.6
14.7
14.4
141.64.7
14.0
20.0
19.0
18.0
17.0
16.0
15.0
14.0
13.0
12.0
1987
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Sep-Apr Jan-Apr

29. PUENTE ALTO VINEYARD

30. THE PUENTE ALTO VINYARD

31. PUENTE ALTO VINEYARD
• Located on the north bank of the Maipo River, at the foot of
the Andes Mountains
• APPELATION: Puente Alto, Maipo Valley
• ALTITUDE: 650 meters above sea level
• TOTAL HECTARES: 127 hectares:
- 90% Cabernet sauvignon
- 7,1% Cabernet franc,
- 1,9% Merlot
- 1% Petit verdot.
• PLANTING DENSITY: 2000 to 8000 plants/Ha
• VINEYARD DIVISION: 7 Blocks

34. THE HUMAN FACTOR

37. 37/ 37

38. 38/ 38

39. 39/ 39

40. 40/ 40

41. 41/ 41

43. DON MELCHOR
23 VINTAGES

45. VINTAGE DON MELCHOR 1987 - 1997
VINTAGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT
1987 100%
1988 100%
1989 100%
1990 100%
1991 100%
1992 100%
1993 100%
1994 100%
1995 97% 3%
1996 100%
1997 100%

46. VINTAGE DON MELCHOR 1998 - 2009
VINTAGE CABERNET SAUVIGNON CABERNET FRANC
1998 100%
1999 93% 7%
2000 100%
2001 91% 9%
2002 96% 4%
2003 95% 5%
2004 94% 6%
2005 97% 3%
2006 96% 4%
2007 98% 2%
2008 97% 3%
2009 96% 4%

47. WINE TASTING

48. Don Melchor
Variety: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon – 6% Cabernet Franc
Vintage: 2004
Puente Alto received lower total rainfall than usual
in the year May 2003 - April 2004. Above average
temperatures were recorded throughout the
growing season up until half-way through the
ripening period. Nighttime temperatures were close
to the historic average with fresh nights. In April,
temperatures dropped below the historic average,
which helped us in monitoring the final stages of
maturity and so preserve the true expression and
freshness of the fruit. Grape picking occurred a
week later than normal.
Origin: Puente Alto, Maipo Valley
Aging: 14 months in French oak Barrels
Tasting Notes: Deep red Cherry. Complex and elegant. Red fruit,
prunes, spices and cassis mingle with hints of
chocolate, tobacco and cedar. Red fruits are also
prominent on the palate. Round tannin adds to the
wine’s concentration and body, and also contributes
its elegance and harmony.
WA 94

49. Don Melchor
Variety: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cab. Franc
Vintage: 2006
A slower than usual maturation and a tremendous
difference between daytime and night time
temperatures allowed us to pick the grapes later
than in previous years, between April 25 and May
19. The climatic conditions coupled with intense
vineyard segmentation allowed us to follow
maturation levels closely and wait patiently for the
tannins to truly ripen while conserving the fresh
fruit expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from
Puente Alto.
Origin: Puente Alto, Maipo Valley
Aging: 15 months in French oak Barrels
Tasting Notes: Intense ruby-red. Complex and elegant, very
expressive and marked by red fruits and soft
notes. Tremendous balance with ripe and friendly
tannins. A wine with great depth, structure, and
persistence.
WA 95

50. Don Melchor
Variety: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cab. Franc
Vintage: 2008
This season was marked by a cold winter, a cold
start to spring followed by a hot summer.
Minimum temperatures were always low,
producing good temperature differences between
night and day. Is was a relatively dry season in
terms of rainfall, the spring and summer months
were very dry with just a few rainfalls in March
and April.
Origin: Puente Alto, Maipo Valley
Aging: 15 months in French oak Barrels
Tasting Notes: Deep cherry-red. Elegant and complex; with ripe
fruit, cedar, tobacco and chocolate notes. Well-structured
and nicely concentrated, firm and full
bodied. Present a long finish and good balance.
WS 93/ WE 93

51. Don Melchor
Variety: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cab. Franc
Vintage: 2009
Chile’s 2009 season was quite warm in general, and
Puente Alto was no exception, although its proximity to
the Andes Mountains and its very cool nights, even in
this vintage, produce very well-balanced fruit that
enables the wine to maintain the personality of Don
Melchor with its tremendous freshness, balance, and ripe
tannins.
Origin: Puente Alto, Maipo Valley
Aging: 15 months in French oak Barrels
Tasting Notes: Deep cherry-red. Elegant and complex; with ripe
fruit, Black Currant and Blackberries with Chocolate
notes, slightly spicy with cedar and tobacco . Well-structured
and nicely concentrated, firm and full
bodied. Presents a long finish and good balance.
- WS 94
- W&S 92
- W6S Best CS from Chile.(2014).

52. Don Melchor
Variety: 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc.
Vintage: 2010
Origin: Puente Alto, Maipo Valley
Vintage: The entire growing and ripening period was influenced
by lower than usual temperatures. Very cold nights at
the end of the season slowed the ripening process and
delayed the onset of harvest.
These conditions allowed us to harvest grapes with
tremendous fresh-fruit Cabernet Sauvignon expression
and highly elegant tannins.
Aging: 15 months in French oak barrels
(76% new, 24% second use).
Tasting Notes: Intense cherry-ruby red. The first impression is of
tremendous elegance, followed by notes of red fruit,
graphite, and mineral notes. Starts sweet with a smooth,
dense evolution and tremendous balance. The finish is
deep, long and very persistent.

53. Thanks
martin.duran@conchaytoro.cl