In the rolling hills of Chile's Colchagua valley is one of the country's best wine estates, Viña Montes. Montes was founded in 1987 by Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, with the aim of producing high-quality Chilean wine. Today,Viña Montes owns some 600 hectares under vine across Chile. Aurelio Montes and his team were the first to plant grapes in the Apalta Valley. His foresight enabled the development of Chile’s most prestigious viticultural region. The Apalta Valley sub-region allows for fewer hours of sun exposure, contributing to a slower yet more consistent growing season for vines. Soils here are of granitic origin with varying clay content, and stones. Marchigüe is located on rolling hills between the Coastal Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean. Cooler than Apalta, grapes ripen slowly here. The soils are shallow, consisting mainly of clay and prone to excellent water retention.
Today I am pleased to offer 3 wines from Vina Montes which are the current releases of their iconic wines. Firstly 2020 Montes Purple Angel, produced from grapes grown across the Apalta and the Arcángel de Marchigüe estates. It consists of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot. Secondly 2019 Montes Alpa " M", sourced from the Apalta estate across several vineyards located mostly on the foothills of the Apalta. It consists of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Thirdly The 2019 Folly Syrah, sourced from a single parcel on the highest, steepest slopes of Apalta's 'Finca Apalta'. It is 100% Syrah. The Guyot-trained vines are planted on 45° slopes providing good exposure to aid ripening, The soil are thin with low organic matter and good drainage, which encourages the roots to dig deep in search of water. This results in vines producing low yields of grapes with tremendous concentration and character.
With this in mind I am pleased to offer the following with scores and reviews from JamesSuckling.com,
2020 Montes Purple Angel Colchagua
6 x 75cl @ £278/6 IB
98 points....."A consistent Purple Angel that really delivers the carmenere’s plushness when ripened well. Dark olives, blackberries and red chili chocolate with a splash of spice and cigar box. Fleshy and concentrated with plenty of fine-grained tannins that extend to a very creamy finish. 92% carmenere, around half from Marchigue and half from Apalta, with 8% petit verdot."-JamesSuckling.com
2019 Montes Alpha ‘M’
6 x 75cl @ £235/6 IB
97 points.....“Deep nose, but really fresh at the same time. Currants, blackberries and chili-pepper chocolate with cedary and meaty undertones. This is really juicy, with a tight, tensely framed palate, underscored by lots of creamy, dusty tannins. A lengthy, refined and elegant expression of cabernet sauvignon, but a strong statement from Colchagua.”-JamesSuckling.com
2019 Montes Folly Syrah
6 x 75cl @ £245/6 IB
97 points...."A ripe and brooding syrah, showing good depth of blackberries, ripe dark cherries and violets, together with a refined, spicy edge and some savory, balsamic character. Concentrated and rich, but still well-drinkable. Full-bodied palate, saturated with dusty tannins that seamlessly knit the palate, rendering a broad but cohesive mouth-feel. Lots of hedonistic pleasures here, but not over the top. A “winter wine” according to Montes."-JamesSuckling.com
