" We don't sell the wine without touching the vine "
Wine from Montes
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The story of Montes is a testament to what unique vision, grit, determination, and perseverance can achieve.
Points of Distinction
- First Chilean winery to produce and export Premium and Ultra Premium wines (Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon and Montes Alpha M)
- Pioneered winegrowing in the Apalta region of the Colchagua Valley, as well as Zapallar and Chiloé, Patagonia
- First Chilean winery to plant Syrah. Apalta vineyards are the sole source of Montes Folly, a 100% Syrah.
- Developed water saving winegrowing techniques to reduce water usage by 65%, saving the equivalent consumption of 20,000 households.
- Achieved B Corp certification in 2024, marking its commitment to sustainability, ethical practices, and positive social and environmental impact within the wine industry.
In 1987, two visionaries, Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, began their journey backed with their extensive experience in the world of wine. Their vision entailed producing wines of a quality far superior to the one that was being produced in Chile at that time. In 1988, Montes and Murray added 2 additional partners, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, to help them in their new endeavor. With each of the 4 partners making their own special and complementary contribution, Viña Montes was born. What began as a dream has now become a dream come true for these four great visionaries, who have managed to build Montes into a global symbol of outstanding quality for the wines of Chile. Montes wines are now distributed in over a hundred countries, and have been recognized for their extraordinary and permanent quality. At the same time, the wines continue to attract the attention for wine consumers everywhere looking to understand and appreciate Chilean wines.
After their first release, Montes continued to reach for higher quality, recognition, and focus. WIth the release of Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, Montes became the first winery to create a truly world-class premium wine the world could appreciate. Concentrated, complex and serious, Montes Alpha established that Montes had chosen the right path and would be a force to be reckoned with on the world stage. With the release of Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, the wines of Chile were now being acknowledged by wine lovers globally.
Continuing with the obsession of creating better wines, Montes was a pioneer in betting on the Apalta Valley and planting vineyards on mountain slopes. The next wine to gain Montes notoriety was the 1996 inaugural release of Montes Alpha M, a classic Bordeaux blend that has become one of Chile’s most awarded wines. But Aurelio Montes did not stop innovating there. In his ongoing quest of elevating quality, Aurelio Montes was the first to plant Syrah in the Colchagua Valley. The resulting wine, Montes Folly, released with the 2000 vintage showcased Montes’ hillside Syrah vineyards in all their glory to outstanding critical acclaim.
Finally, the first premium Carmenère from Chile, Purple Angel, was launched in May 2005. Again, the wines were lauded with praise and critical acclaim from the wine press and loyal fans of Montes’ wines alike. Besides outstanding quality wines and innovative winegrowing and winemaking practices, Montes has grown its presence internationally without foreign investment or consulting winemakers, making Montes a truly Chilean success story.
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Montes Alpha M 2019 is made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.
Montes Alpha M is the result of an extremely limited production and a rigorous selection of the grapes, one by one, led by Aurelio Montes. Coming from the Colchagua Valley, it is one of the best and most awarded wines of Chile. The vineyards that give rise to Montes Alpha M are located in the Apalta zone of the Colchagua Valley. The soils are of granitic origin and are shallow in the upper, mountainous sectors. They vary in the clay content, depth, amount of organic matter, and especially the types of rocks and stones they are made up of. The soils origin can also range from fluvial to glacial, which shows the great diversity of soils in our vineyards. Some zones are influenced by the Tinguiririca River and others by mudslides and the detachment of material from high above in the mountain chain that delimits the valley.
Harvest Note
At the beginning of the season, winter in Apalta presented itself with mild temperatures and rainfall close to 13 inches, a considerable drop compared to the previous year's 20 inches. Winemakers started irrigating later in the season because of the rainy and cool spring, which allowed them to reserve water for summer. Summer was dry in the Colchagua Valley. It was warm, but not warm enough to damage the vines or grapes, and they didn't suffer any other climatic events that could have harmed the health of the grapes. Winemakers implemented controlled water-stress conditions between fruit set and veraison, limiting berry size and achieving a great skin-to-pulp ratio, which resulted in superb color and concentration, rich tannins, and remarkable aromas. The weather presented good conditions for harvesting red varieties. There was no rain in March or April, so winemakers waited for full phenolic ripeness, without the threat of disease that could have affected the quality of the wine. In short, this was not a year of detrimental weather events, so the health and quality of the grapes gave clean musts of great potential.
Tasting Note
Aromas of raspberry and strawberry with plum and ripe grapes followed by toasted notes of nutmeg and nuts.
Food Pairing
Pairs well with duck breast, lamb or pork chops, pasta with pesto, lamb masala, and chicken with mushroom sauce.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
APPELLATION: Colchagua Valley
PH: 3.45
ACIDITY: 3.85 g/l
ABV: 14.5%
AGING: 80% of the wine’s components were aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels. The remaining 20% was kept in barrels of two or three previous uses, for the same amount of time.
Unique Selling Points
- Extremely limited production where grapes are hand selected one by one.
- Only released if head winemaker, Aurelio Montes approves the quality.
- Originating from Colchagua Valley, one of the best and most awarded Chilean wines.
- Aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months.
- Smooth but structured on the palate, with silky tannins.
Review:
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. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 97 Points
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Argot Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
Powerful aromas of key-lime, white flowers, orange blossoms and a fierce, flinty, sauvage note define a wildly complex nose. Once in the mouth, gracefully pronounced textures coat the palate delivering an exotic interpretation of cool-climate Chardonnay character — lime peel, orange blossom, ginger and clove —lingerings deep into a vibrant finish.
Planted 1978. Shallow volcanic soils on the gently-sloped, south-facing foothills of Bennett Peak on Bennett Valley’s floor. One of California’s coolest Chardonnay vineyards. In the final year of 3-year draught cycle, Simpatico Ranch saw its earliest ever harvest and smallest crop, exposing a reserve of exoticism and minerality previously untapped. A watershed vintage for both the vineyard, and appellation. Night harvested by hand on 9/16, whole-cluster pressed direct to barrel; no settling to ensure maximum lees contact. Barrel fermented on heavy lees. Malolactic fermentation. 16 months in French oak, 50% new. Finished 2 months in steel tank, low Sulphur during barrel elevage.
Review:
The 2021 Chardonnay Simpatico Ranch needs a lot of swirling before it shoots from the glass with notes of lemon tart, orange blossoms, candied ginger, and fresh nectarines with hints of crushed rocks, struck flint, and nutmeg. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers amazing tension, with tight-knit citrus and spice layers and a fantastically well woven satiny texture, finishing long and layered. "We only get about 1.5 tons per acre here," said owner/winemaker Justin Harmon. "This comes from old vines on AXR rootstock."
-Wine Independent 97 Points
The first kosher Amarone! Amarone undergoes a very unique process prior to fermentation. In late October, grapes are harvested and allowed to dry for around 120 days. Known as the “appassimento” technique, the drying process traditionally occurs on straw mats or in temperature controlled drying chambers. This process helps concentrate the juices and increases skin contact, giving the wine a very ripe, full-bodied flavor. There is no other wine like it! The unique flavors of Amarone, including dark chocolate, coffee, dark fruit and light notes of cherry, pair beautifully with steak, stews, and bold cheeses.
The color is deep bright, ruby red with a violet edge. Powerful bouquet and intense aromas of cherry, ripe plum, toasted almond, and vanilla. A full bodied wine with round and rich flavor.
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