As with many other producers, syrah has now become a grape to be contend with in Chile. And so it's no news that Concha y Toro has joined the many others in their quest for great syrah.

With deep purple tones, rich nose of blackberry, hints of mint, eucalyptus, good balance of alcohol, tannins and structure, this wine offers elegant taste and finish. And what is encouraging to see, is the quality of syrah arriving at such a great price. At well below the $13.00 range, this is a MUST to buy by the case!

Left: The Puemo vineyards
Right: The Puente Alto vineyards

With the Marques line, come great value with superb quality. While we did not have the chance to taste the 1999 Marques Merlot (it did not arrive in time for the tasting, but should arrive soon), both these wines have been internationally recognized as best buys.

The 1998 vintage, climatically marked by the "Niño" phenomenon that caused abundant rainfall, temperatures somewhat lower than normal and little sunlight forced to harvest later than normal.

Concha y Toro tells us "This situation was a real challenge when it came to handling the foliage so that a healthy and mature grape could be harvested. This slowed down the maturing of the tannins which meant that this year, more than others, the date of the harvest could only be determined by actually tasting the grapes. Thanks to excellent vineyard management, how it has been divided up for harvesting and the unique conditions of the soil in Puente Alto, we were able to get the grapes to the cellar in optimum condition."

Since its first vintage in 1987, Don Melchor has become a name onto itself. Entirely from the Puente Alto vineyard, this wine is aged for 13 months in 53% new and 47% one year old oak. Full of cassis, burnt cedar, and hints of bacon and mushrooms, this wine, from 30-40 year old vines, certainly needs patience and time before expressing its true self.