Montes Alpha Colchagua Cabernet Sauvignon

Montes was established in 1988 by Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, with the aim to produce the best wines in Chile from the best regions. We have long admired Montes and what they have done for Chilean wine over the past 25 years. The Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, first produced in 1987, broke the mould for premium wines in Chile. Since then, Alpha has gone from being a wine to being the core range in the Montes portfolio. The grapes and sites are carefully selected in order to ensure varietal integrity and complexity. Viticulture is hands on and individual rather than mechanical and industrial. The result is a range of wines that offer superb value within the premium wine market - whether from Chile or anywhere else.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

The Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are located in the Colchagua Valley, primarily at our Finca Apalta, with additional contributions from our Marchige property. Some sectors in Apalta are highly influenced by the river, while others are more by affected material that has broken off from the mountains above. The soils are generally deep in the flat areas and thinner at the foot of the mountains and at higher elevations. The Cabernet Sauvignon is preferably planted on ground that is flat or has a slight slope, where the soil is deeper and has a moderate capacity for moisture retention. The topography of the Marchige property is much flatter. The soils are shallow, and in some cases, are no more than 60 cm deep with clay content and a high capacity for water retention. The Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are located on the flat lands with a high percentage of rounded stones and little clay content.

During fermentation, the wine's cap is submerged, allowing further extraction of colour and tannins. 55% of the wine is aged for 12 months in 1st, 2nd and 3rd-use French oak barrels. The wine is then put through a cartridge filter prior to bottling.

This wine is deep ruby red in colour, and boasts complex aromas of cherry, strawberry and root beer interlaced with cigar smoke black pepper and toasty notes from the time spent in oak. On the palate, this wine boasts rounded tannins and a vibrant and flavourful finish.