92pts James Suckling

Olives and fresh blackcurrants with nice twists of bay leaf and dark chocolate. This is a medium-bodied cabernet sauvignon with crunchy red and black cherries and tight but silky tannins. More red fruit here. 10% merlot in the blend.

90pts Wine Enthusiast

After 12 months in oak barrels, wood notes are well integrated in this red. It has a fruit-forward nose of berries blended with licorice, eucalyptus and peppercorn. The palate delivers smoke and juicy black fruits over a chalky texture and bright acidity. A dash of bay leaf complements the flavors. This wine is medium bodied and has slightly drying tannins, but it’s very approachable.

Winemaker Notes

Deep, ruby-red in color. The nose is complex, with ripe red and black fruit, including strawberry, prune, and blueberry. There are also well-balanced notes of tobacco, leather, and toast, thanks to the 12 months of barrel ageing. These are followed by dairy notes of dulce de leche and toffee. The tannins are silky on the palate, with great body and elegance. With medium balance and a long finish, the wine’s palate repeats the aromas perceived on the nose.

Blend: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot

Winery Notes

With the release of the first Montes Alpha wine back in 1988, Montes became one of the first premium wineries of Chile. Their premise, a clear belief that Chile had an untapped potential as a producer of quality wines, made them a benchmark for other wineries to follow. Its original four partners' total involvement and the continuous help of the angels that decorate their labels was key to their success. Two decades later, Montes is the fifth most important winery of Chile where Aurelio Montes continues leading the winemaking area with the same passion as the first day. Hard work and total focus on quality has led Montes to be one of the most successful and respected quality-driven wineries in Chile as they continue pioneering and breaking new grounds in wine.