Montes Alpha Syrah

Sit back, relax, because this is a very spicy, full-bodied young wine with deep aromas and flavors. It's no wonder the Montes Alpha Syrah has been named game wine of the year. It's a wine with a unique character, a result of the winery's years of experience. It was founded in 1987 by Aurelio Montes and three partners with a shared goal: to create the finest Chilean wines made from local grape varieties. It started small, but today Montes boasts a whopping 600 hectares of vineyards across Chile. The vineyards are located in five different communes, where they produce a variety of wines. This red Syrah comes from one of Chile's finest vineyards, the Colchagua Valley. This wine is now made by Aurelio's son, Aurelio Jr., a passionate man who learned the art of winemaking from his father.

Wood aging for the Montes Alpha Syrah

The Syrah grapes for this Montes Alpha are grown in the municipalities of Apalta and Marchique in Colchaqua. Here, the climate and soil structure are perfect for the Syrah grape. The organic soil with its many diverse layers provides the Syrah grape with everything it needs. The abundant sunshine and the cool breeze from the Tinguirrica River contribute to this unique harvest. Besides the Syrah grape, a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Viognier is added to this red wine to make it just a little more drinkable. And that's a good thing, because otherwise it would have been too harsh and complex. After being harvested by hand, this red wine is aged for a full twelve months in oak barrels. The Montes cellars contain French oak barrels, most of which are two years old. This gives the Syrah everything it needs.

Full and very powerful this Montes Alpha Syrah

Open the bottle quickly, because this is a spectacle! The most beautiful aromas are released upon opening. We noted notes of spices, blackcurrant fruit, and a touch of vanilla. In the glass, this red wine has a purplish-red hue with a dark rim. Very refined aromas of blackberries, cherries, and plums complemented by Serrano ham, vanilla, and cocoa. The palate is firm on the tongue with many powerful flavors of blackberries and cherries, along with spices and vanilla. Later, a hint of spice and some hints of leather and tobacco emerge.