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AN ANGELIC PUBLICATION, FROM CHILE WITH PRIDE
News
NAPA ANGEL
THE FIRST CALIFORNIAN ANGEL BY MONTES Having established a solid reputation as a top quality wine producer in the two best South American countries for wine growing, the next step had to be the capital and cathedral of Cabernet Sauvignon in the New World’s Northern Hemisphere. That is unquestionably Napa Valley. Learning and comparing what we create with the icons of California is, again, a huge challenge. It is this learning process and comparison that, we hope, will take
Montes to the next level: we proudly present NAPA ANGEL to you, our first vintage –2006– in the fabled Napa Valley. May it complement the reputation of its two brothers from Chile and Argentina.
ROBERT PARKER.COM, U.S.A., November 2008
ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE: GREAT RATINGS Top scores, many surpassing 90 points, have been given to Montes by the USA´s Robert Parker (The Wine Advocate). In his article “Chile: Still a Work in Progress“, Parker considers Montes as one of the wineries that ‘has figured out how to produce terrific red wines at bargain prices“. He also emphasizes, amongst the very top Chilean wines, our Montes Alpha M as one of the world-class Bordeaux-style wines, elegant and for long time cellaring. Ratings granted to our Montes wines were as follows: 94 Points: Montes Folly 2005. “Structured for the long haul, it requires 5-7 years of additional cellaring. The fruit is ripe and sweet, the balance impeccable, and
the finish lasts for nearly a minute. It should be at its best from 2015 to 2030.“ 93 Points: Montes Alpha M 2005. “Purplecolored, it offers a classic Pauillac-like nose of pain grillé, vanilla, tobacco, earth notes, black currant, and blackberry. This leads to a full-bodied wine which maintains a sense of elegance. Layered with plenty of ripe fruit, there is enough tannin to support 5-7 years of further bottle aging. Well balanced with a long, firm finish, should be at its best from 2015 to 2030.“ Continued on Page 2
WINE & SPIRITS, U.S.A. April 2009 issue
MONTES ALPHA IS THE MOST POPULAR CHILEAN WINE IN U.S. RESTAURANTS Montes Alpha has been selected as most popular Chilean wine in US Restaurants in the 2009 Wine and Spirits Magazine Annual Restaurant Poll. To produce the ranking US Restaurateurs listed their ten top-selling wines in order of popularity. Wine & Spirits Magazine then sorted the results by variety and country of origin. The New World wine list features Montes at the #1 spot for Chile with our Montes Alpha Chardonnay and Montes Alpha Merlot as most popular wines. "People are aware
Continued from Page 1
now that the best values are coming out of South America", says Nicolas Finelli at Yangming in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. "The value-to-quality ratio is there." This is the fourth time Montes has been selected as favorite wine from Chile. Thank you for your preference!
ROBERT PARKER SCORES (continued):
92 POINTS: Purple Angel 2005. “Splendid nose of pain grillé, spice box, pepper, sage, blueberry, and blackberry jam. Smooth-textured, opulent, and sweetly-fruited, it cuts a wide path on the palate leading to a 45second finish. Drink it now through 2020.“
91 POINTS: Montes Alpha Syrah 2006
90 POINTS:
Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley grapes, will be sold both in the United States and worldwide. Next year's offering will also include Syrah sourced from Paso Robles, which will go into a blend whose exact composition has yet to be finalised. Some 7,500 cases will be released initially, with the ultra premium wines selling at around US$70 per bottle. The company eventually aims to produce 20,000 cases annually. Montes is buying grapes from various growers and renting facilities at the Artesa winery in Carneros. Serrano said Montes plans to stay at Artesa rather than build its own winery in the region. Winemaking duties have been assumed by Larry Levine, former head winemaker at Franciscan Estates, and Aurelio Montes, co-owner and chief winemaker of Montes. 'We have been down this road before in Argentina. Right now, we're just getting to know our neighbors and learning how things get done there,' said Serrano.“
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
90 POINTS: Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2006
90 POINTS: Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2006
90 POINTS: Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Leyda)
DECANTER.COM, U.S.A., June 18, 2008
MONTES WINES TO RELEASE FIRST NAPA CABERNET By Jimmy Langman “Chile's Montes Wines will release its first Napa Valley wines in September – the first Chilean company to expand into the United States. Export manager Carlos Serrano told decanter.com Montes wanted to be in Napa 'because we like a good challenge'. Their first Californian release, a 2006
BLOOMBERG.COM, November 12, 2008
HARROWING SAILING TRIP SPURS CHILEAN VINTNERS TO MAKE NAPA WINE By Ryan Flinn In 2006, Montes winery founders Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray were on a yachting trip in southern Chile when a storm forced them to take refuge in a small bay. Battered by heavy rain and wind, the boat's anchor snapped, leaving them adrift in the dark. ``We were very scared,'' Montes recalled during a recent interview. ``We had to sail by night so as not to go into the rocks.'' When the vintners returned home to Santiago, they decided to navigate another challenging course -producing a Napa cabernet sauvignon primarily for the U.S. market. Although Montes was already Chile's fifth-largest exporter of wine, the owners wanted to expand into one of the ``cathedrals'' of the winemaking world. ``We decided to convert this sailing challenge into a wine challenge in Napa,'' said Montes, who started the winery with Murray in 1988 with a $60,000 investment. Their new line of wines, called NapaAngel and made at Artesa Winery in Carneros, California, is available in U.S. stores and restaurants. There are two versions of the wine, Montes NapaAngel ($55) and Montes NapaAngel Aurelio's Selection ($90).
About half the original production of 8,200 cases will be sold in the U.S., with the rest going to Japan and South Korea. While that's a tiny percentage of Montes's annual production of 750,000 cases, marketing a relatively expensive wine right now in the U.S. is risky business. With the economy slumping because of the financial crisis on Wall Street, consumers are spending less on pricey wines at restaurants and stores. At a tasting event in San Francisco in September, the first vintage of the new NapaAngel wine was poured along with a sampling of other offerings from the Montes winery, including two from its signature M line and two from its Argentinean brand called Kaiken. Unfortunately for NapaAngel, the 2005 Montes Alpha M ($90) stole the show. The Bordeaux-style blend exuded chocolate-covered espresso beans on the nose, giving way to a nice balance of blackberries, spices and a touch of green pepper. The winery's decision to increase the cabernet franc component to 10 percent and reduce the merlot content to 5 percent from the 2003 version was noticeable in its bigger structure. Montes said that will give the wine better aging potential than the 2003 vintage. The $55 bottle would fit in with other similarly priced offerings from Napa, with familiar scents of oak, vanilla and red berries. The tannins buck up over the fruit, showing this wine's youth. The $90 wine was more intense, with black cherries in the mouth and softer tannins. The higher-end bottle would compete, price-wise, with Napa cabs such as Chateau Montelena, Duckhorn and Silver Oak. WINE & SPIRITS DAILY.COM, U.S.A., September 17, 2008
MONTES ESTATE UNVEILS NAPA ANGEL “Chilean wine estate Montes has just released its first Napa wines, the Montes NapaAngel 2006 and the Montes NapaAngel Aurelio's Selection 2006. The winegrapes hail from Coombsville, Stags Leap, Yountville and Rutherford AVAs, and were shown Monday in San Francisco with other Cabernet-based wines from Chile. The NapaAngel project is a joint venture with Montes longtime importer Alex Guarachi, of TGIC wine importers in Woodland Hills, with Montes owning 54%. The Montes NapaAngel will retail for $55 and the Montes NapaAngel Aurelio's Selection will sell for $90.“
NAPA ANGEL LAUNCHINGS Seoul, Korea
Hotel Vitale, San Francisco, U.S.A. September 15, 2008
Park Hyatt, Tokyo, Japan October 1, 2008
Mariani’s Virtual Gourmet Newsletter, September 23, 2007
CHILE´S MONTES WINERY MAKES ITS MOVE ON NAPA VALLEY By John Mariani “Notes from the Wine Cellar: When Montes winery was founded in Chile in 1988, it put a cattle prod to that country’s languishing wine industry. Since World War II more than half the country’s vineyards had been ripped out owing to over-taxation and low wine consumption.“ … “Back in 1980 Chile exported only 100,000 cases to the U.S. Only in 1995 did Chile adopt a Designation of Origin system for its vineyards, largely because wineries like Montes, Concha y Toro, and Los Vascos. In the past twelve months Chilean wineries have shipped 36.8 million cases and this year will surpass $1 billion in sales.“
A retrospective of Montes Alpha M wines from Chile showed that alcohol levels have been increasing there too. The 1997 was listed at 13.5 percent, the 1998 at 13.9, and recent vintages, like 2004 and 2005, a percentage point higher. My favorites came in somewhere in the middle, and showed that a few years of age truly balances out the wines’ elements. The 1999 took on the qualities of a fine Bordeaux with more fruitedness—a wine I’d happily drink right now. The 2000 and 2001 were both well knit, very pretty wines, light in the bouquet but gaining fruit on the palate as the minutes passed and the wine opened up. The 2003 was quite vegetal, like a still-tight Médoc, needing a year or
“Montes is the only Chilean winery wholly owned by Chileans--Aurelio Montes and partners, who have committed themselves to produce only premium wines that will compete internationally. In that they have succeeded quickly, having built a prestigious reputation for its traditional Bordeaux-style blends of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and petit verdot called Montes Alpha “M.” In 2001 they invested heavily in a winery in Mendoza, Argentina, where they produce cabernet and malbec wines under the Kaiken label. After twenty years in business Montes now exports 95 percent of its total production to more than 100 countries on five continents. The U.S is its largest market, with more than 170,000 cases shipped. Now Montes’ aim is to find a niche within the U.S. itself, investing $2 million so far to source cabernet sauvignon grapes in California’s Napa Valley. Their first harvest was in 2006, with 6,600 cases to be released in early 2008. One third of the production will be a cabernet-syrah, blend called Aurelio’s Selection, to sell for a hefty $70 a bottle. The rest will be a reserve blend of cabernet and other varietals, to sell for $45. At a seminar this month held in New York by Aurelio Montes, 58, and his son Aurelio, 33 (below), I tasted a barrel sample of 100 percent cabernet sauvignon from the Napa Valley Rutherford vineyards, aged nine months in new barrels. At this point the wine is very fruity and a little flabby, almost like Port, and the tannins beneath the fruit are soft. At 14.9 percent alcohol it’s going to rank with the higher alcohol blockbusters of Napa, with another wine from Coombsville vineyards hitting 15.1 percent.
be that they try very hard to be as gentle as possible with the handling of their fresh fruit, carefully selecting the healthiest grapes and keeping them cool through the pressing and blending processes. “We play Gregorian chants in our cellars as the wine is aging,” said the elder Aurelio Montes. “Somebody asked me if the grapes seem to enjoy it, and I answered, I really have no idea. But I love it--it keeps me calm in the cellar."
DAILY NEWS LINKS, U.S.A., September 17, 2008
ICONIC CHILEAN WINE ESTATE LAUNCHES NEW NAPA WINE Montes' first Napa wines include the Montes NapaAngel 2006 and the Montes NapaAngel Aurelio's Selection 2006. Montes, one of Chile's leading fine wine brands, has just released its first Napa wines, the Montes NapaAngel 2006 and the Montes NapaAngel Aurelio's Selection 2006.
two more to work through the tannins and reveal its complexity. The 2004, with 14.9 percent alcohol, is out of balance right now, light in the nose but with opulent fruit and a hot tannic finish. I’d give this two to three years to come around. Finally the 2005 showed itself still unyielding but with abundant fruit and almost a caramel finish, far more in the California than Bordeaux style. I also had a chance to taste 2006 barrel samples of the 100 percent carmenère, a varietal that grows very well in the dry altitudes of Chile. One, from the warmer Apalta vineyards 40 miles from the coast, was well-developed with layers of fruit, acid, vegetal flavors, and softening tannins that promise it will be an excellent example of this varietal. The sample from the Marchigue vineyards, only 15 miles from the coast, had more spice and tart tannins, making it more austere and, perhaps, better balanced in a year or so. If I brought any notion of the overriding concerns of the Montes wineries in Chile, it would
Montes founders Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray came to San Francisco to launch the first release, as did export manager director Carlos Serrano. Made from purchased fruit from the Coombsville, Stags Leap, Yountville and Rutherford AVAs, the Napa wines were shown Monday with the other Cabernet-based wines from the Colchagua/Apalta region of Chile (Montes Alpha M) and Mendoza, Argentina (the Kaiken series) that Montes produces. The NapaAngel project is a joint venture with Montes longtime importer Alex Guarachi, of TGIC wine importers in Woodland Hills, with Montes owning 54 percent. All the wines bore a very remarkable similarity: big, high alcohol wines, lush-textured, new oak-influenced, with dense soft tannins. The angel is a big theme for Montes, appearing on all its labels and as a sculpture at its main estate in the Colchagua Valley of Chile. The Montes NapaAngel will retail for $55 and the Montes NapaAngel Aurelio's Selection will sell for $90, the same prices as the Montes Alpha M. Montes is also developing a project in Paso Robles and plans to release a wine from that AVA next year.“
GALLERY OF IMPORTERS WORLDWIDE Alex Guarachi TGIC Importers, U.S.A.
Alex Guarachi, Founder/President of TGIC Importers, truly embodies the American dream. Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, Guarachi comes from a family of eight children. At a very young age he became a constant fixture on el campo de futbol, and his talent attracted the attention of many universities from the United States offering him full athletic scholarships, He left Santiago for California in 1976, and played soccer for the San Jose State University men’s soccer team, serving as its captain.
interest in cuisine, South American wine had not reached major importing channels yet. The young entrepreneur knew that the wines of Chile were just as good if not better than the wines in the marketplace at that time, and set out to bring the best of Chile to America. Introduced to Viña San Pedro winery via ProChile who directed him to talk to Douglas Murray, Guarachi’s first Chilean import was Viña San Pedro wines. Setting the groundwork for a lifelong friendship, coincidentally the winemaker was Aurelio Montes, Export Manager was Douglas Murray, and Alfredo Vidaurre was President. Through this first relationship, the TGIC and Montes (which was but a gleam in Aurelio, Douglas and Alfredo’s eye!) relationship was born. 1984 was the founding year of TGIC Importers. Using Guarachi’s own funds, and a secondary investment by personal friend George Tralle, the first container, 1000 cases worth, was purchased and shipped to Northern California. Tralle Guarachi Importing Company or Thank God is Chilean (TGIC) was open for business! As he was the the founder and sole employee at that time, he not only handled logistics and customs, he both unloaded the cases from each container and was responsible for selling and marketing the wines as well- so much for the wine business being “glamorous”! According to Guarachi, introducing Chilean wine was a challenge at first. Although Chile has had an extensive history in winemaking, and has been producing wine far before California, as he remembers, just trying to explain to consumers where Chile was on a map was a challenge!
After a successful collegiate career on the field as both a player and a coach, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1982. However, his dream to play professionally was cut short due to an injury. Always one with a plan, Guarachi decided to expand on another subject he knew quite well: Chilean wine.
Before long, the quality and value of the Chilean wines stood out among their domestic and European counterparts, and the quality of the wines were all that mattered. Within a few years, Alex was able to buy Tralle’s shares and pay back the investment and then some.
Upon arriving to the US, he had been surprised about the lack of Chilean wines in the marketplace. Having grown up with wine on the table and having already developed appreciation for the fine wines of Chile, he saw an opportunity. Although the San Francisco Bay area was, even at that time, one of the major metropolitan cities with ready access to fine wine and an a sophisticated
In 1989, TGIC was importing and representing Montes wines within California, the first importer to bring Montes wines into the US. However, Douglas and Aurelio realized that they would need to consolidate their multiple US importers in order to build a long-term partnership that was consistent across all markets. After a bit of a “healthy competition”, TGIC was chosen to be the
exclusive US importer based on their long-standing relationship and Guarachi’s dedication to the winery in the US market. 23 years later, Montes wines, and now Kaiken, are sold in all 50 states in addition to cruise lines by TGIC. Through TGIC’s long-standing relationships with distributors covering the country, and strategic alliances covering multi-state territories such as with the Charmer Sunbelt Group and Republic National Distributing Company, TGIC has enabled Montes and Kaiken to grow to levels which multiple importers could not achieve. This effort has enabled TGIC to reach a projected sales figure of 190,000+ cases for the year 2009. Montes wines are sold at the nation’s most prestigious wine retailers, restaurants, wine bars, hotels and resorts including such notables as Restaurant Daniel, Spago Beverly Hills, Ritz Carlton, Le Bernadin, The Warwick Hotel New York and the Four Seasons. With a staff of 21 Division and Area Managers nationwide, and a sales team of 14 plus 10 merchandisers in California, and a corporate staff of 18 with sales, operations, marketing, public relations, graphics and business development departments, TGIC has come a very long way since the days of its first container. Today, TGIC represents 10 wineries from around the world for national import and distribution including wines from Argentina, Australia, Chile, California, France, Italy and New Zealand. A true international success story, to illustrate how far TGIC has come, net income for TGIC in 1985 was just $20,000), while the company is poised to exceed $50 million in sales in 2009 or from 0 cases to 750,000 cases. Always appreciative of his lifelong friendship, partnership and relationship with Vina Montes, Guarachi was very proud to be inducted into Montes’ Orden Del Angel in 2005. His treasured memories include the winery’s numerous “firsts” such as the launching of Montes Alpha “M”, Montes Folly, Montes Purple Angel, Montes Cherub, the induction of the Apalta Winery at Montes’ Finca de Apalta estate, and Montes’ continued participation in the Wine Spectator’s New York Wine Experience as well as the Wine Spectator Grand Tour. Also, today Alex has a relationship with the winery that goes beyond business, and he considers TGIC to be part of the incredible worldwide family of Montes.
WINE SPECTATOR, U.S.A., August 31, 2007
92 POINTS: MONTES ALPHA SYRAH 2005 From Colchagua Valley, Apalta Vineyard: Smart Buy. “Aurelio Montes is establishing a track record with Syrah. He has a little Viognier, which may help to refine the blackberry, cherry and mineral flavors. $25.“ “This is a ripe and concentrated, yet polished and refined, with layers of dark cherry, blackberry and briar caressed by suave toast, vanilla and mineral notes long and fleshy through the finish, which shows solid grip. Contains 7 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 3 percent Viognier. Drink now through 2009. 20,000 cases made. From Chile. Wine Spectator´s editors have selected this wine as the best buy of the week”.
WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER, U.S.A., October 2008
MONTES ALPHA SYRAH, AN EXCELLENT WINE BY WINE SPECTATOR Insider, a weekly publication of Wine Spectator for members only, is a newsletter that features classicrated red, white and dessert wines from an eclectic mix of wine regions. This week James Molesworth finds four excellent Syrahs from Chile, and our Montes Alpha Syrah 2006 is one of them. From Colchagua Valley, Apalta Vineyard, 91 points, $28, 7,500 cases imported. “This is richly layered, with ambitiously styled fig, mocha, espresso and bittersweet cocoa, all backed by a lush beam of boysenberry fruit. Fleshy and toasty through the finish, with the dark fruit lingering nicely in the background. Super delicious. Drink now through 2010.—J.M.“
WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER, U.S.A., December 2008
MONTES ALPHA CHARDONNAY SELECTED AS AN OUTSTANDING WINE FROM CHILE By James Molesworth Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2006, 90 Points: “A ripe, showy style, with pear, fig and melon notes backed by alluring toast. Lively acidity keeps this honest through the lengthy, butter-tinged finish. Drink now.- J.M.” $26 / 4,950 cases imported.“
WINE SPECTATOR ONLINE, U.S.A., February 2008
NEW GREAT SCORES TO OUR ICONS WINES By James Molesworth According to Wine Spectator, “Chile´s 2005 vintage is a strong one, particularly for the reds. And in strong vintages, great wineries really pick up their game, as the classic releases from Viña Almaviva and Viña Montes here ably demonstrate. Both of their flagship bottlings rely on Cabernet Sauvignon, with Almaviva´s showing the Maipo profile of loam and tar, while Montes Alpha M shows the more mineral and currant side of the Colchagua valley. 95 Points: Montes Alpha M 2005, Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley, $93: “Very sleek and refined, but with loads in reserve, this shows layers of mocha, espresso, bittersweet coffee, mineral and currant paste all framed by dense but supersupple tannins. Beautifully rendered, and the best vintage yet for this winery's flagship wine. Best from 2009 through 2015. 4,500 cases made.“ —J.M. Highly Recommended. 94 Points: Montes Folly 2005, Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley, $93: “Dense and layered, with lots of fig, black currant paste, mocha and black licorice flavors, all supported by muscular, but ripe and well-embedded structure. Long, dark finish has lots of power in reserve, but shows fine harmony already. The best-balanced vintage so far for this powerful Syrah. Drink now through 2013. 2,500 cases made.“ —J.M. 91 Points: Purple Angel 2005, Colchagua Valley, $57: “Ripe and plush, with a dense but reserved core of plum and blackberry fruit that will need some cellaring to get past the mocha, coffee and loam notes. Long and dark on the finish, this is well put together. Carmenère and Petit Verdot. Now in its third vintage, and improving. Best from 2009 through 2011. 1,500 cases made.“ —J.M
WINE SPECTATOR, U.S.A., May 15, 2008
CHILE RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS By James Molesworth “With successful vintages in 2005 and 2006, solid values lead the way. In recent years, as the world economy has soared, Chile´s wine producers have tried to shrug off their hard-won reputation for affordable wines and move up the scale in price and prestige. But with a global recession looming, the country´s ability to deliver good value is ever more resonating with American wine drinkers.“ … “With the 2005 vintage, Viña Montes has released its best wines to date. The Folly Santa Cruz 2005 (94, $93), made from 100 percent Syrah, along with the Purple Angel Colchagua Valley 2005 (91, $57), made from Carmenère and Petit Verdot, represent new highwater marks for its portfolio. The winery also returns out some exciting values, including the Sauvignon Blanc Leyda Valley Leyda Vineyard 2007 (89, $16).“
and cinnamon-laced chocolate. The tannins are well integrated, there's a hint of oak aging and a long and satisfying finish. Wines like this lay the market forces behind cabernet distribution bare. Take the word "Chile" off the label, and this fruit-forward wine, with its bright, sensual mouthfeel, would command far higher prices. Certainly it is a New World styled wine, but a toasty, balanced example of New World winemaking. I can see pairing this with any rich white meat, such as pork or veal, with its evocative wild mushroom quality, and I can even see it paired with a rare steak with minimal saucing. Like South Africa or Hungary, Chile is a winemaking region still recovering from the mediocrityfueling conditions of despotism, but this wine, as much as the first Casa Lapostolle Cabernet I tried almost ten years ago, is both a stand-alone wine and a promise of wonderful things to come.“
COTTAGE LIVING, U.S.A., Nov/Dec 2008
20 LUXURY WINES UNDER $20 By Amy Zavatto What to pour this season? Amy Zavatto, co-author of “The Renaissance Guide to Wine and Food Pairing“, suggests trying these reasonably priced palate pleasers. “You don´t need to sacrifice quality when it comes to finding wine that´s easy on your wallet. Value is about more than a price tag –it´s about flavor and merit. Here, we´ve found a multitude of outstanding bottles to fit your festive fetes this season. They´re not only reasonably priced but also downright delicious. You´ll feel as if you spared no expense. Here are some of my favorites… Montes Cherub 2007, Syrah Rosé, $18. Sour cherries, strawberries, and spice dominate this deep, cranberry-colored Chilean rosé that´s an easy fit on any Thanksgiving table. Pairs with turkey and game birds. Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $11. Bring on the beef! Deep ruby in color, this Cab is all ripe blackberries with aromas of cinnamon, snapped saplings, and a hint of eucalyptus. Pairs with red meats.“
MADISON MAGAZINE, U.S.A., October 2008
WINE LIST DISCOVERIES “One of the most common questions diners ask is how to "read" a restaurant's wine list. They want to know what's good. Next time you're out, ask to speak to the house's wine specialist--it will enhance your dining experience immeasurably. Or try these wine directors' picks.“ … “Patrick Ducey, Samba Brazilian Grill. Hidden Gem: Montes Alpha Syrah. A northern Rhone style from Chile; restrained and elegant.“
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT, NEW BRUNSWICK, Canada, December 9, 2008 THE SAVENNIERES ITCH.BLOGSPOT.COM, U.S.A., November 23, 2007
CHILEAN VALUES “I've long held the Montes winery in high esteem, and their Cabernet Sauvignon Classic Series, Colchagua Valley, 2006, the most economical Cabernet they offer, still has an evocative caramelized fruit nose and a palate of plums, prunes
SPECIAL WINE FOR THE CELLAR By Robert Noel In the section Life & Times, Robert Noel has selected our Montes Alpha M as one of the three favourite premium wines from Chile. He wrote the article “Find special wines for the cellar“, with a big shot of Montes Alpha M. Robert Noel is Alcool N.B. Liquor´s sommelier. His column, World of Wine, appears each Saturday in Life & Times.
GUIA MUJER Y VINO, Chile, December 5, 2008
OUR WINES ARE CHOSEN FOR “GUIA MUJER Y VINO“ The long-awaited launch of the Guía Mujer y Vino 2009 took place at the Hotel Marriott in Santiago. Written by Ana María Barahona and published by ChileVinos, this year’s edition features notes on over 950 wines, 98 of which were selected as winners in various price categories. Ana María tasted through the wines with 43 panelists including winemakers, sommeliers, food writers and journalists. “The main objective of this guide is to inform, educate and help women who consume wine and want to learn more about it and be confident about buying it,” the author says. She adds, “If I had to give you a quick overview, I’d say that I am surprised by the fact that this has been a great year for top-level Syrah and Carmenère. They are intense, seductive wines.” This year’s guide features a special section with recipes recommended by the guide’s technical coordinator, Ricardo Grellet, who recently was recognized as the Best Sommelier in Chile. The winning Montes wines were: Complex Reds Category: Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, 92 points Rosé Category: Montes Cherub 2008, 88 points Premium Category: Montes Folly 2006, 92 points, and Purple Angel 2006, 92 points
WINE SPECTATOR.COM, April 05, 2007
WHAT TO DRINK WITH JAPANESE FOOD “Our guide to choosing sake and white wine — including our lists of recommended selections— for your spring entertaining. As the weather gets warmer in the Northern Hemisphere, lighter food and wines become increasingly appealing. Home cooks and professionals alike look forward to the spring for the chance to use tender vegetables, seasonal seafood and delicate flavors. The Japanese table provides a perfect example, and while the idea of cooking a Japanese meal in your home may be intimidating, it's never been easier to have a great dining experience in a Japanese restaurant in the United States. This, of course, raises the question: What to drink with Japanese food? Following is a list of light-bodied Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings that have been recently rated by the Wine Spectator tasting department. 90 Points: Montes Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Leyda Valley Leyda Vineyard Rich and stylish, with focused lemon verbena, lime, mineral and honeysuckle flavors that really glide through the finish. Lengthy and pure. Drink now. 20,000 cases made. —J.M. ($16).“
FOOD ARTS, U.S.A., September 2008
94 POINTS TO MONTES FOLLY 2005 “With an eye to restaurant wine lists, our cellar reconnoiterer Jeffery Lindenmuth picks ideal new releases recently reviewed by Wine Spectator. Note: Wine Spectator rates on a 100point scale. 95—100: Classic, a great wine. 90—94: Outstanding, superior style and character. 80—89: Good to very good, a wine with special qualities.“ … “Best Buy, Montes Folly 2005, Santa Cruz: This dense Chilean Syrah doesn't sacrifice balance for power, weaving a supple tap estry of dark fruit—fig, black plum, and currants. The rich fruit aromas swirl with licorice, chocolate, and hints of smoky meat, and the palate shows plenty of structure and endurance, with the mocha and vanilla oak nuances nicely integrated. 2,500 cases made. Score: 94 Cost: $680 per case.“
WINE SPECTATOR INSIDER, U.S.A., December 10, 2008
ARIZONA REPUBLIC, U.S.A., November 2007
90 POINTS 90 POINTS: MONTES LIMITED SELECTION MONTES ALPHA CHARDONNAY 2006
“A ripe, showy style, with pear, fig and melon notes backed by alluring toast. Lively acidity keeps this honest through the lengthy, butter-tinged finish. Drink now.—J.M.“ Casablanca Valley, $26, 4,950 cases imported.
PINOT NOIR 2006
Recommended “to share with a loved one or give as a gift. 2006 Montes Pinot Noir, Chile ($13-$15) – “Chile has arrived. There are a ton of Pinots around; most are jammy, rich monsters that would be great for half the price. This one is a nice little find and a great value. The color is light ruby, like Old World Pinot Noir. The aroma has dark cherry and currant right up front with pleasant baking spice and cream in the back. The taste is "oh yeah" - creamy fruit with spice to give it structure. 90 points.“
WINE NEWS, U.S.A., March/April/May 2008
94 POINTS:
Montes Folly 2005, Syrah, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley. Tasters´ Choice Selections. “Blackgarnet hue with a viscous ruby rim. Minty, menthol aromas of blueberry jam with a smoky, campfire nuance. A well-structured, fruit-driven wine with flavors of black cherry, anise and chalk. Youthful, fine tannins join polished oak and delectable black fruit in the finish. $93/3,000 cases.”
92 POINTS:
WINE ENTHUSIAST, U.S.A., December 31, 2008
91 POINTS TO MONTES ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley, $28 “Aromas of cocoa, cassis and marshmallow are sweet and attractive, while the palate feels just right and tastes of cassis, plum, caramel and pepper. While it is powerful, it’s not a runaway tank. Thus expect a sly finish that’s toasty, dark and polite. Drink now and over the next couple of years. Very good Cab from one of Chile’s top producers. — M.S.”
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley. “ Forward aromas of blueberry, coconut and new oak. Supple texture with intense flavors of plum blueberry and oak with a hint of sweet tobacco joined by wellintegrated tannins, which allow the rich black fruit to play out in the finish. A classic Montes with telltale opulence $25.”
WINE ENTHUSIAST, U.S.A., May 2008 Issue
92 POINTS:
91 POINTS TO OUR MONTES CHERUB
Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley. “Defined freshness in a bouquet that imparts black cherry, plum, licorice and espresso bean. Accessible black cherry flavors with a compote-like sweetness. Dry spicy finish imbued with fine-grain tannins and a suggestion on black pepper.$25.”
Wine Enthusiast’s May 2008 issue has selected our Montes Cherub as Editor´s Choice, with 91 Points. According to Wine Enthusiast: “With each passing year this Syrah rosé gets better and better. Yet some things remain the same, like the color, which is almost red, and the clarity, which is nearly perfect. Put this in your mouth and we’ll bet
you get no indication that it’s Chilean. It’s a ripe but balanced example of a long and lasting rosé; and it will go with almost anything on your plate. A real winner from South America.”
WINE NEWS, U.S.A., September 2007
GREAT SCORES TO OUR ULTRAPREMIUM RED WINES By Tom Hyland 93 Points: Montes Alpha M 2004, Apalta, Santa Cruz, Colchagua (US$ 82). “Fragrant aromas of wild strawberry, rhubarb and carnation. Full bodied with a generous mid-palate displaying flavors of red cherry, cola and currant. Elegant tannins, good acidity and ample oak. Lengthy, well-rounded finish marked by coriander and cinnamon. Notably complex and expressive of its terroir.“ 92 Points: Montes Folly 2004, Apalta, Santa Cruz, Colchagua (US$ 82). “Aromas of ripe blackberry, boysenberry and anise. Medium-full bodied with excellent concentration. The palate reveals flavors of black cherry, black plum and mace. Big persistence of fruit in the finish. Elegant tannins, good acidity and subtle oak. Richly flavored with a graceful palate feel. A delicious food wine.“
THE WINE BUZZ, U.S.A., November/December 2008
2008 NOTABLE WINES Montes Alpha M 2005: “Our favorite wines from Chile are reds, and this is right up at the pinnacle. A Bordeaux-style blend, it´s powerful without being massive, with beautiful structure and complex flavors of cassis, dried dark fruit, spice and dark chocolate – an aristocrat.“
BEVERAGE DYNAMICS, U.S.A., The Wine News, U.S.A., August/September 2008
90 POINTS
Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. Black garnet hue with a fuchsia rim. Pretty scents of mocha, cherry and pencil shavings. Generous cherry-chocolate flavors with an oak note and a slight chalkiness. Spicy finish accented by notes of clove and black pepper.
90 POINTS
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. Deep purple due. Black cherry, new oak and cedar chest aromas. Crisp red fruit flavors with peppery tannins and cherry pit astringency. A sound, well-made wine showing its youthful side right now.
92 POINTS
Montes Purple Angel 2005. Brooding garnet hue. Fresh mint and evergreen aromas with smoky deli meat accents. Rich and supple with juicy black fruit, toasted oak and graphite flavors with just enough spiciness to tame the lingering sweetness.
93 POINTS AND FIVE STARS
★★★★★
(TOP RATING) TO OUR ALPHA CABERNET Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006: “The bouquet is initially sweet and savory, with a strong whiff of espresso and caramel overlying ripe fruits and aromas of blackberry and black cherry; with time, some lightly spicy notes of oak and vanilla emerge; coffee and spice notes on the palate with ripe, black fruit flavors move to center stage; full, ripe and rich and well balanced; a nice note of acidity on the palate; pairs well with roast beef with all the trimmings.($22).“ NEW YORK, U.S.A., September 2007
A MEMORABLE RETROSPECTIVE OF MONTES ALPHA M IN NEW YORK The Cornerstone Angels, led by Marsha Palanci and Jennifer O'Flanagan, organized yet another successful Montes event in New York city, at the ultra-modern Studio 450, a brilliant white loft in the center of Manhattan. Aurelio Montes Sr. and Aurelio Montes Jr. led an impressive attendance of wine journalists through a vertical of world-famous Montes Alpha M and other Montes and Kaiken wine samples plus a first peek at our still-in-process California wines.
ABOUT.COM, U.S.A., February 28, 2008
WINE OF THE WEEK: MONTES ALPHA M 2005 By Stacy Slinkard “The Montes Alpha "M" was recently dubbed "favorite red wine" at our most recent wine tasting. Not to mention that Montes Alpha "M" has gained international recognition for being an award winning, ultra-premium Chilean red wine. It's no surprise, as this is a tip top Bordeaux-style blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon (80%), Cabernet Franc (10%), Merlot and Petit Verdot (both pitching in 5%). This wine is full-bodied and rich, with an intensity that resonates with the well structured tannins. The color is bold a mix of ruby red and magenta on the edge. The nose exposes mint, berry and a trace of mocha. The palate profile is peppery, with coffee and currant, deep vanilla and delightfully concentrated fruit - plum, cherry and blackberry to be more specific. Keep in mind that while this wine is a fantastic drink now, it will only get better as it matures with additional years (consider aging for 15+ years). Give it a go with roasted game, lamb and Brie or Gouda.“ Montes Alpha M 2005 (Chile) $80.
Points), Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (87 Points) and Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (86 Points). NORTHJERSEY.COM, U.S.A., December 2007 BOISE WEEKLY, Idaho, U.S.A., April 30, 2008
MONTES ALPHA M 2000 IN EMILIO´S RESTAURANT By Tara Morgan, in the Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise, Idaho, U.S.A. “Emilio's, located inside the Grove Hotel, is bright and open, with the white-linen, fresh-flower formality of a hotel restaurant. Baggage carts linger near the host stand and classical music echoes off the high, open ceilings. Across the way at the hotel bar, businessmen talk excitedly with the remnants of several martinis scattered around their tables. When I visited Emilio's one Wednesday evening— sans reservations and dressed casually in jeans—I had no problem scoring a booth for three.“ … “After finishing our appetizer, we were ready to tackle the Trapper-Keeper-sized wine menu. At a whopping 20 pages, Emilio's wine list has most of the standard high-end fare with a notably New World focus: California, Oregon, Washington, New Zealand, Australia and South America.
MONTES FOLLY 2004 NAMED ONE OF THE TOP WINES OF 2007: 96 POINTS! By Robert Whitley The great Robert Whitley has named Montes Folly 2004 one of the “Wines of the Year“ for 2007. He rated the wine 96 points and called it “one of the top five red wines produced in South America and certainly the finest syrah.“ According to Mr. Whitley, “Choosing a wine of the year is a bit like voting for your favorite flavor at Ben & Jerry's. At the highest levels of winemaking, they're all very good. Rather than contriving a selection process that takes into account various factors such as score, price and availability, this year I've determined to present my wines of the year in a straightforward fashion. They are simply the best wines I've tasted from the new releases of 2007.“
After sifting through some nice Old World picks from France and Italy, my wine-loving dining companion decided on a Chilean blend: the 2000 Montes Alpha "M" from the Colchagua Valley ($112). “
GRAND GOLD MEDAL TO MONTES FOLLY IN SWITZERLAND Our Montes Folly 2004 has been awarded with the “Grand Gold Medal“ (93 Points) in Expovina Wine Competition, the biggest and most important one in Switzerland. Only 16 out of more than 2,000 wines received this award. Moreover, Montes Folly was voted “Best Red Wine of the New World“. Our Montes Alpha M 2005 obtained a Gold Medal (90 Points), and three of our wines received a Silver Medal: Montes Alpha Syrah 2006 (87
MONTES FOLLY IN THE PRE SEASON OF MANCHESTER UNITED HwCg, our UK importers, sponsored the pre season friendly on Monday 4th August between Manchester United FC ( Champions League & Premier League Champions) and Peterborough United FC. HwCg presented to Sir Alex Ferguson (Manager of Manchester United) and Darragh Macanthony (Owner of Peterborough United) with a special selection of Super Premium wines: Montes Folly, Fox Gordons Hannah’s Swing Shiraz and Jackson Estate Gum Emperor Pinot Noir. They were well received !! (Sir Alex Fergusons son Darren is the manager of Peterborough). In the photo is Darragh Macanthony, Stephen Gerrard (HwCg) and Sir Alex Ferguson. LUXURY WEB, U.S.A., March 2008
MONTES FOLLY SELECTED AS ONE OF THE “BEST 25 WINES OF 2007“: 97 POINTS!
CELEBRATED LIVING.COM, U.S.A., Fall 2008 EXPOVINA, Zurich, Switzerland, August 2008
U.K., August 4, 2008
A GREAT FIRST IMPRESSION By Anthony Dias Blue “You can’t judge a wine by its label, but wine packaging does create first impressions, for better or worse. The best designers know that what’s on the label should reflect what’s inside the bottle.“ … “When Aurelio Montes decided to plant syrah in Chile, a lot of people thought he was crazy. His wine, Montes Folly, has an unusual wraparound label designed by well-known graphic artist and illustrator Ralph Steadman. In Steadman’s wacky yet unnerving style, the label depicts the desolate heights of the Andes, along with a rather lurid winged muse bearing a bunch of grapes.“
Montes Folly 2004 had been selected as one of the Best Wines of 2007 and received 97 points by Manos Angelakis, from LuxuryWeb.com, a site dedicated to the art of living well. Angelakis wrote: “These are my personal favorites for 2007. The list is ranked by numerical rating, regardless of price… What I consider the third best red wine of the year comes from Chile. Montes Folly 2004 is the finest New World Syrah I tasted in 2007. When I first tasted it at the Apalta winery a year ago, I gave it a provisional 94 to 97 rating at the time, but in just a year it has developed to a real charmer. Rated a definitive 97 points.“
BBC NEWS, U.K., May 2008
MUSIC “CAN ENHANCE OUR WINES“ DECANTER, U.K., April 2008
AN ARTISTIC WINE Montes Folly 2005, Apalta Vineyards: ”Ralph Steadman first met Douglas Murray co-owner of Montes, in the mid-1990s on his first trip to Chile, when he was commissioned to work on the Oddbins catalogue. Montes began searching for its top-end cuvee, Folly, whose low-yielding vines are planted on steep hillsides, and counter- cultural cartoonist Steadman, who´d worked with extremists like Hunter S Thompson, was a natural choice.
According to BBC News, “playing a certain type of music can enhance the way wine tastes, research by psychologists suggests. The Heriot Watt University study found people rated the change in taste by up to 60% depending on the melody heard.
The first four vintages were illustrated through images inspired by Steadman´s visit to Chile´s northern desert. With 2005, however there´s been a shift south: the label now depicts the wild and mountainous scenery of Patagonia”. Carlos Serrano, Montes export director: “There is no one in the world who could have made a better label for this wine than Ralph. He responded to its personality and wildness”. Mark Weiss: “A very clever marketing choice by the winery because- certainly in England- through his association with Oddbins, no other artist is so synonymous with wine. That aside, the label is a huge success in its own right. Beautifully conceived and executed”. Mark Weiss owns the Weiss art gallery in London.
Santiago, Chile, June 2008
MONTES FOLLY AT THE LAUNCHING OF LEXUS IN CHILE The Japanese luxury car, Lexus, was recently launched in Chile. The first 24 buyers were awarded Montes Folly. Lexus is the luxury brand of the main car manufacturer worldwide, notable by its quality, variety and uniqueness. Chile is the first Latin American country to receive Lexus which has come to compete in the premium market with 5 distinctive models holding the most advanced technology, safety and comfort.
The research was carried out for Chilean winemaker Aurelio Montes, who plays monastic chants to his maturing wines. Mr Montes said: "It was therefore a natural extension to link with Heriot Watt and to scientifically determine the impact that music has on how wine tastes." The researchers said cabernet sauvignon was most affected by "powerful and heavy" music, and chardonnay by "zingy and refreshing" sounds. Professor Adrian North said the study could lead retailers to put music recommendations on their wine bottles. The research involved 250 students at the university who were offered a free glass of wine in exchange for their views. BRAIN THEORY Four types of music were played - Carmina Burana by Orff ("powerful and heavy"), Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky ("subtle and refined"), Just Can't Get Enough by Nouvelle Vague ("zingy and refreshing") and Slow Breakdown by Michael Brook ("mellow and soft"). The white wine was rated 40% more zingy and refreshing when that music was played, but only 26% more mellow and soft when music in that
category was heard. The red was altered 25% by mellow and fresh music, yet 60% by powerful and heavy music. The results were put down to "cognitive priming theory", where the music sets up the brain to respond to the wine in a certain way. "Wine manufacturers could recommend that while drinking a certain wine, you should listen to a certain sort of music," Prof North said. Previously, Professor North conducted supermarket research which suggested people were five times more likely to buy French wine than German wine if accordion music was played in the background.If an oompah band was played, the German product outsold the French by two to one. MUSIC RECOMMENDATIONS Cabernet Sauvignon: All Along The Watchtower (Jimi Hendrix), Honky Tonk Woman (Rolling Stones), Live And Let Die (Paul McCartney and Wings), Won't Get Fooled Again (The Who) Chardonnay: Atomic (Blondie), Rock DJ (Robbie Williams), What's Love Got To Do With It (Tina Turner), Spinning Around (Kylie Minogue) Syrah: Nessun Dorma (Puccini), Orinoco Flow (Enya), Chariots Of Fire (Vangelis), Canon (Johann Pachelbel) Merlot: Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay (Otis Redding), Easy (Lionel Ritchie), Over The Rainbow (Eva Cassidy), Heartbeats (José González), Source: Montes wines. Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7400109.st
THE AGE.COM, Australia, August 23, 2008
THE WORLD´S GREAT GRAPE TRAILS “Wine writer Ralph Kyte-Powell nominates his favourite vineyard regions. “Wine in Chile has a 450 year history but only in the 1980s did it become world class. The country's wine trails provide a great voyage of discovery for the adventurous traveller. The wine heartland is the warm, dry Maipo Valley, near the capital city of Santiago, and sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, carmenere, merlot and chardonnay are the main grapes.“ … “Montes, one of Chile's quality producers, has been developing new vineyards and technical directions; the most interesting are the steep, rugged hillsides of the Apalta Valley, near the picturesque town of Santa Cruz, about 200 kilometres south of Santiago. Syrah, our Aussie shiraz, is a specialty. Watch out for puma stalking in the wooded hills nearby.“
aromas with smoky deli meat accents. Rich and supple with juicy black fruit, toasted oak and graphite flavors with just enough spiciness to tame the lingering sweetness. $55.“ 90 Points: Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Colchagua Valley “Deep purple hue. Black cherry, new oak and cedar chest aromas. Crisp red fruit flavors with peppery tannins and cherry pit astringency. A sound, well-made wine showing its youthful side right now. $28“.
FORBES.COM, U.S.A., October 2008
PURPLE ANGEL 2005 CHOSEN AS AN EXCEPTIONAL WINE BY FORBES Purple Angel 2005, our Carmenère from Colchagua Valley, has been selected as one of their “Twenty Exceptional South American Wines“ by the prestigious Forbes magazine. Also, Aurelio Montes is recognized as one of the quality pioneers, a real visionary winemaker who decided it was better to gain recognition through bottling something distinctive as our Carmenère. Forbes said: “Montes Purple Angel 2005 (Chile, $57) Carménère takes a new dimension," claims the label, and does it ever! From its confectionery vanilla icing, plum blossom and violet aroma to its silky, perfectly weighted palate feel and juicy flavors of ripe plum and blackberry, this is a genuine aristocrat. A flat-out steal."
THE SUN, NEW YORK, U.S.A., September 12, 2007
PRICED OUT OF BORDEAUX By Peter Hellman Montes Purple Angel 2003: “Carmenère, once an important grape in Bordeaux, is now alive and well in Chile. Bright and brilliant, fruit and spice and youthful energy abound in this wine. And yes, it´s very purple. Decant it in the morning for evening drinking.“
NEW ZEALAND, December 2008,
GOLD MEDAL TO PURPLE ANGEL IN NEW ZEALAND Purple Angel 2005 has been awarded a Gold Medal in the 2008 New Zealand International Wine Show, in “Other Reds” category. According to the judges “Carmenère dominates this amazingly approachable voluptuous blend of dark smoky oak, succulent red fruit, tar and spice.” “With 2273 entries, the 2008 New Zealand International Wine Show is far and away the largest wine competition ever held in this country and is one of the largest wine competitions in the Southern Hemisphere. Following several excellent vintages, a host of top quality wines were entered with the Judging Team, led by Larry McKenna and Peter Cowley. There is excitement in every category and with so many of the top wines being recent releases, wine lovers should be able to source these wines for many months.” WINE NEWS, U.S.A., August 2008
GREAT SCORES TO OUR WINES FROM WINE NEWS MAGAZINE Best Value Selections: 90 Points, Montes Classic Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Colchagua Valley: “Black garnet hue with a fuchsia rim. Pretty scents of mocha, cherry and pencil shavings. Generous cherry-chocolate flavors with an oak note and a slight chalkiness. Spicy finish accented by notes of clove and black pepper. $12 / 20,000 cases imported.“ 92 Points: Montes Purple Angel 2005, Carmenère, Colchagua Valley “Brooding garnet hue. Fresh mint and evergreen
U.S.A., March 2008
GREAT SCORES TO OUR WINES BY STEPHEN TANZER Recently, Stephen Tanzer´s International Wine Cellar published a comprehensive review of Chilean wines. Our Montes wines received great scores. Seven of our best wines also received good scores (87 to 89 points). Josh Raynolds, the critic that judged the wines for this publication, tasted close to 1,000 wines and rated 450 of them as having a rating of 85 or better. There were 66 wines rated above 90 points, and 396 wines rated above 87. According to Josh Raynolds, the overall quality of Chilean wines has noticeably increased… “showing an impressive selection of world-class reds“. Wine Ratings 92 Points: Montes Alpha M 2004, Colchagua Valley, ($93; 80% cabernet sauvignon, 10% cabernet franc and 5% each of merlot and petit verdot). “Ruby-red. Exotic aromas of cassis, blackberry, incense and smoky minerals are admirably focused and expansive. Deep, velvety and sweet, with palate-staining dark berry liqueur flavors, supple tannins and a late-arriving licorice quality.
Refuses to let up on the finish, eventually leaving behind sappy blackcurrant and floral pastilles.“ 92 Points: Montes Folly 2005, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, ($93; 100% syrah). “Deep ruby. Powerful blackberry and cassis aromas are complicated by smoked meat, vanillin oak and candied licorice. Supple, sweet and broad, with luscious blackberry and cherry preserve flavors, velvety tannins and great depth. Really stains the palate and finishes with outstanding persistence. An extremely impressive wine, but the price stings.“ 91 Points: Montes Folly 2004, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, ($93; 100% syrah). “Inky ruby. Impressively complex bouquet displays dark berries, cherry, smoky herbs, dried flowers and Asian spices. Deep and velvety, with chewy red and dark berry flavors, spicy minerality and youthfully firm tannins. Gains sweetness on the long, sappy finish. Lovely stuff, and balanced to repay cellaring.“ 90 Points: Montes Purple Angel 2004, Carmenère, Colchagua Valley, ($47; includes 8% petit verdot). “Opaque violet. Ripe cherry, blueberry and plum aromas pick up smoked meat and underbrush nuances with air; this offers very impressive aromatic complexity. Restrained and nicely balanced, offering fresh dark berry fruit and lightly dusty tannins. Finishes with good cut, lift and tangy persistence. I'd hold off on opening this for a few years.“ 90 Points: Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, Colchagua Valley, ($25). “Ruby-red. Energetic cherry-cola and raspberry aromas offer impressive clarity and a suave floral overtone. Sweet red and dark berry liqueur flavors are complemented by sexy vanillin oak and Asian spices, with supple tannins carrying through the finish. Emphatically modern and quite seductive.“
THE MIDWEST WINE CONNECTION, U.S.A., February 2008
THE CORK REPORT Montes Purple Angel 2005. “A full- bodied earthy blend of Carmenere and Petit Verdot from Chile´s Colchagua. Intense flavors, firm tannins and a lasting finish. A unique blend, and one of the best from Chile we´ve tasted in a long time. Really good. 90 Points”. Montes Cherub 2006. “Well-balanced with slightly dry fruits. A great example of tasty Syrah Rosé. Quite versatile by itself or with many foods. 88 Points”.
London, U.K., July 2007
THE INSTITUTE OF MASTERS OF WINE ANNOUNCES NEW MONTES SCHOLARSHIP The Institute of Masters of Wine is delighted to announce a new scholarship, the Montes Scholarship. This generous annual scholarship, consisting of a US$ 10,000 travel bursary, will enable the winner to travel to Chile, to visit Montes and other Premium wine producers in the region, and to further their knowledge about this diverse and viticulturally exciting country. It will be awarded to a candidate from anywhere on an essay on a selected topic on the subject of Chile and its wines. According to Joanna M Locke MW, Chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine: “We are very grateful to Montes for this generous scholarship. Montes´ quest for excellence in Chilean wine and its drive to further high level education fits very well with the Institute of Masters of Wine´s global vision of promoting excellence in all aspects of wine. We are delighted to be able to offer the Institute´s students such a tremendous opportunity.“
WINE NEWS, USA, March / April / May 2008 Issue
OUR WINES HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS TASTER´S CHOICE SELECTIONS Great scores to our red wines from Apalta Valley in the Wine Reviews from Wine News magazine: 94 Points: Montes Folly 2005 Syrah, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley. “Black-garnet hue with a viscous ruby rim. Minty, menthol aromas of blueberry jam with a smoky, campfire nuance. A well-structured, fruit-driven wine with flavors of black cherry, anise and chalk. Youthful, fine tannins join polished oak and delectable black fruit in the finish. $93 / 3,000 cases.“ 92 Points: Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley. “Forward aromas of blueberry, coconut and new oak. Supple texture with intense flavors of plum, blueberry and oak with a hint of sweet tobacco joined by wellintegrated tannins, which allow the rich black fruit to play out in the finish. A classic Montes with telltale opulence. $25.“ 92 Points: Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley. “Defined freshness in a
bouquet that imparts black cherry, plum, licorice and espresso bean. Accessible black cherry flavors with a compote-like sweetness. Dry, spicy finish imbued with fine-grain tannins and a suggestion of black pepper. $25.“
Musings of a Zeitgeist Blogger, U.S.A., SPIRITOFTIME.BLOGSPOT.COM, Sep. 17, 2007
ROSÉ OBSESSION CONTINUED: MONTES “The last few weeks until you have to admit that fall is here... And what a better way to ease into fall than enjoy a great rose... This weekend I have discovered a great buy: Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah. It is ~$15 or so, by a great Chilean producer and got a 90 pts from Wine Enthusiast. But beyond the reputation and the rankings, I am intrigued by a Rosé made from Syrah grapes. It is a very beautiful pink, which makes me happy just by looking at it. It has a quirky label which also puts a smile on your face, the very necessarily morale boost we need as the weather gets cold and melancholic. I have not tried it yet... but for now these are the tasting notes I stole from someone else... I will confirm later... "Montes Cherub is a vibrant, flavor-filled Rosé from Chile's coastal region. This Rosé is made from Syrah grapes, which dictate both its brilliant color and swank flavor. The flavor profile offers rich red fruit, mainly strawberry and cherry with a touch of orange and spice. Montes Cherub Rosé also boasts backbone and lively acidity, culminating in a long, delightful finish. A fantastic wine for end of summer gatherings. Consider pairing with shrimp, fish or prosciutto appetizers."
ABOUT.COM, U.S.A., June 06, 2008
ROSÉ WINE TOP PICKS A Dozen Rosés for Summer Sipping By Stacy Slinkard, About.com “Rosé wines are perhaps the most versatile, foodfriendly wines around. They have had an image problem to overcome, thanks in part to the run of "White Zin," as many consumers mistake Rosé wines to be overly sweet and in the category of "starter wine." However, Rosé wine sales are on the rise as savvy Wine Lovers have discovered that many of these pink wines fall into the definitively "dry"
category, not sugary sweet, and the vast majority of Rosé wines offer a very good wine value for the money. Rosé wine hues come from the short contact time that the grape juice has with the grape skin. Serve chilled.“ … “Recommended No.1: Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah 2007, $16. This brilliantly colored Rosé from Chile is made from 100% Syrah grapes, resulting in a delicious array of fresh fruit flavors amidst well-supported structure. Very refreshing - perfect as an apertif or with fresh veggies, highly flavored Asian food or grilled poultry or fish.“
and summer with gentle red berry and rode petal fruit characters, a light, soft, dryish palate and a clean finish. (Alcohol 13%, screwcap)”. Ageing?: No. Food ideas: Empanadas; chicken salad. Stockists include: Due next week at Dan Murphy stores $$$.
ARIZONA REPUBLIC, AZCENTRAL.COM, U.S.A., May 28, 2008
MONTES CHERUB IN COSTCO
SENIOR WOMEN WEB, U.S.A., August 2008
RECOMMENDED ROSÉ By Sharon Kapnick “With excellent Syrahs, Cabernet blends, Carmenères, Malbecs, Sauvignon Blancs, late harvest sweet wines and rosés, it seems there’s nothing this Chilean winery doesn’t do well. Maybe the monastic chants winemaker Aurelio Montes serenades his maturing wines with make the difference. Montes Cherub 2007 / Grape: Syrah / Flavor Tip: cherry, strawberry and orange, floral (roses), spice.“
2006 Montes Cherub, Rosé of Syrah, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($11,99)-“ This wine is the color of “passion” pink. It´s light with good graduation of color to the finish. The aroma is on the herbal-white pepper end of the spectrum. The taste is dry with tart cherry fruit and some light spicy tones to the finish.”
CHERUB, A BRIGHT PINK WINE Montes Cherub 2006, Rosé of Syrah, $11-$13. “Montes is one of Chile´s best winemaking outfits, with quality wines from good- value labels such as this to innovative new-wave drops that deserve acclaim. This bright pink wine is just right for spring
A DRY, RICH, FRUITY ROSÉ “Lately I have been waiting somewhat uneasily for the release of the new Chilean Rosés. The 2006 selections made me very proud, and now that the 2007 vintages are out and of equal and better quality, the portfolio looks full and tempting. The last to appear was the Cherub 2007, by Montes, which is made with Syrah grapes from Marchigüe, the coldest and windiest area of the Colchagua Valley. That slow but complete ripening process makes this wine what it is. A tight but fresh and lively bouquet is accompanied by a profile that recalls freshly picked strawberries. It is dry, rich and fruity with moderate acidity that brings those strawberries together with plums and then a finish that has a touch of citrus similar to bitter orange peel. Complete and refreshing. The only thing missing is the swimming pool.” VITIS MAGAZINE, Chile, April 16, 2008
RELEASED AND TASTED “Montes Cherub 2007. Montes’ new cherub is a Syrah from the El Arcángel de Colchagua vineyard. It flies far on wings of intense strawberry, rose petal and orange peel notes. This voluptuous Rosé should be served very cold.”
CAPITAL MAGAZINE, Chile, February 22, 2008
MONTES CHERUB, A BALANCED ROSÉ Montes Cherub 2007, Syrah Rosé, Apalta: “While many Chilean Rosés continue to insist on sweetness and a lack of balance, this one avoids that pitfall and offers fresh notes of strawberries and roses without losing its poise. Like a heroine in a 19th century novel, its apparent reserve hides a spirit that must be discovered. Try this wine with Asian stir-fry dishes.”
THE AGE, MELBOURNE, Australia, December 2007
QUE PASA MAGAZINE, Chile, February 15, 2008
PARA TI MAGAZINE, Chile, March 6, 2008
YOUNG AND FRUITY “Montes has released Montes Cherub 2007. The previous vintage of this wine won the double Gold Medal at the San Francisco International Wine Competition in the U.S. It is a dry Rosé made from 100% Syrah grapes. It is intense pink in color with floral and strawberry notes.”
WINE & SPIRITS, U.S.A., November 2007
MONTES CHOSEN AS A 2007 INTERNATIONAL WINERY OF THE YEAR The prestigious North American magazine Wine & Spirits included five Chilean wineries amongst its Top 100 awarded at the “International Wineries of the Year, 2007” where Montes holds a place. The publication indicates that the selected wineries consistently make great wines expressive of their particular regions, a growing feature in the wines international market. For the past 12 months, the panel tasted over 8.500 imported wines from around the World, selecting those that stood out for their quality and regional character. To be listed as one of the best wineries worldwide is yet another reason for Montes to feel proud.
and Italy) vs New World (Australia, Chile, South Africa) wines for members of the Wine Society of India and the Bangalore Wine Club, and spoke about how this momentous tasting changed the perception of wines worldwide. BUSINESS STANDARD, India, July 2008
EPICURIOUS, U.S.A., July 2007
DRINK PINK By Leslie Sbrocco Montes "Cherub" Syrah Rose, Colchagua Valley, Chile ($15): “Aurelio Montes makes some of Chile's top bottles and his whimsical take on spicy Syrah makes for serious pink fun. American producers are helping drive rose's renaissance. Don't miss these domestic divas.“
CONOZCA MAS MAGAZINE, Chile, March 12, 2008
A PINK CHERUB “Fresh, young and fruity are the words that will spring to mind when you taste Cherub 2007 by Montes, a pure selection made from 100% Syrah grapes grown at the El Arcángel de Marchigüe vineyards in the Colchagua Valley under Pacific Ocean breezes. This elegant and dry Rosé stands out because of its notes of strawberry and floral flavors, particularly rose and orange, which linger in the mouth. Ideal for accompanying fatty fish, white meats, fresh cheeses and salads.”
JUDGEMENT OF PARIS II: OLD WORLD VS. NEW WORLD WINES BY STEVEN SPURRIER. MONTES ALPHA CHARDONNAY 2005 WINS HANDS DOWN IN BANGALORE, INDIA By Alok Chandra, New Delhi Steven Spurrier was in India and re-created his version of the “Judgement of Paris”. New World vs. Old World Wines together. It was for the Wine Society of India and the Bangalore Wine Club. Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2005 was the white wine champion! According to Business Standard web site: “For those who are relatively new to the wine scene: the "Judgement of Paris" refers to a famous blind wine tasting organised in 1976 in (where else) Paris by Steven Spurrier (then a wine merchant and educator based in that city) between the leading Californian and French wines of the day. Nine French tasters, all eminent personalities in the field of wine, judged between Chardonnays (Chablis and white Burgundys for the French wines) and Cabernet Sauvignons (Bordeaux blends for the French wines). The results were a revelation, as for the first time in an impartial forum it was proven that the best Californian wines were as good as, if not better than, the best French wines. The only reporter who deigned to attend the tasting (although many had been invited) was George Taber from Time magazine, and some of his reportage makes for hilarious reading: "The wine that one judge said bespoke "the magnificence of France" turned out to be a Napa Cabernet. Similarly, "this is definitely a California. It has no nose" said another judge — after downing a Batard-Montrachet '73". "When the results were tallied and announced, several of the judges behaved badly, refusing to give up their tasting notes, and one even tried to change his numbers before Spurrier whipped away the score sheets." Time naturally tom-tommed the results; leaders of the French wine industry subsequently banned Steven Spurrier from any prestigious wine tastings. Steven Spurrier was in Bangalore last week leading a blind tasting of Old World (France
Interestingly enough, a key insight Steven shared was that, while prior to 1976 it was the French who had been "resting on their laurels" — which was why the quality of the Californian wines was such a revelation — in the last two decades the position has been somewhat reversed, with French wines seeing improvement while the best Californian wines have become so expensive as to be "out of sight" to all but a favoured few. The 112-odd participants were treated to a virtuoso performance by one of the world's leading wine experts; the wines were tasted in pairs, and the ratings were: Whites: Laroche Chablis 2004 (France) vs Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2005 (Chile). The Montes won hands down, with several people claiming that the Chablis was cooked or corked (Spurrier preferred the Chablis). Reds 1: Brancaia Tre Rosso Toscana 2005 (Italy) vs Rolf Binder Haliwell Shiraz Grenache 2004 (Australia). While the latter was preferred overall, a significant number liked the Italian super-Tuscan. Reds 2: Chateau Magdelaine, St Emilion 2000 (France) vs Le Bonheur Merlot-Cabernet 2004 (South Africa), both wines with distinctive features (the Bordeaux smoother, the South African livelier). Even honours here. With wine consumption growing rapidly in India, I am sure we'll see more such innovative events that educate and inform the consumer about wines. Santé and Salud!“
WINE NEWS, U.S.A., October-November 2008
WINE NEWS HAILS CHERUB Wine News magazine selected our Montes Cherub 2007 as one of the Best Rosé with 92 points, in the “Global Rosé“ category. According to Wine News: “Feathered garnet hue. Bright black cherry and clove aromas. Rich, elegant and polished with cherry and strawberry fruit. Lengthy, fruit-driven finish with balanced, controlled sweetness. $16.“
MONTES FOLLY SELECTED BY A SPECIAL BOOK ROBB REPORT, U.S.A., November 2007
MONTES CHOSEN AMONGST THE 100 TOP WINERIES WORLWIDE The November 2007 edition of the Robb Report showcases Montes as chosen amongst the Top 100 Winemakers, in addition to being branded as one of the “world´s greatest producers”. The Robb Report is a magazine about luxury lifestyle in the United States, offering “the best of the best“ to its readers. Only three Chilean wineries are featured, and our Montes Alpha M 2004 is recommended as one of the best wines produced by Montes. The Report states: “Montes led the way in establishing that Chile could produce luxury Bordeaux-style wines to compete on the world stage. The Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, with its balanced structure, dark fruit, and concentration, remains a standard-bearer. Recommended: Montes Alpha M 2004, Santa Cruz ($90). “
The book “1001 Wines You Must Taste Before You Die“ has selected our Montes Folly 2005 as one of the great wines of the world. With a preface by Hugh Johnson, the general editor is Neil Beckett. All the wines have been selected and reviewed by leading international critics. According to the book: “The grapes for Folly are grown on the very highest and steepest slopes of Montes’ Finca de Apalta vineyard in Apalta Valley“… “Yields are kept low, with grapes and clusters that are much smaller and even more concentrated than in the vineyard’s lower slopes— “pure, ripe fruit,” as Aurelio puts it.
THE STAR.COM, Canada, February 23, 2008
ANCIENTS´ WAY WITH WINE NO LONGER EXTINCT By Gord Stimmell “It's hard to put a figure on how many grape varieties are made into wine. Experts put the number at around 8,000 surviving types. That may disturb some chardocentrics and cabbers who are stuck in a grape rut. Some folks are grape explorers. We like discovering great wines made from forgotten or neglected grapes.“ … “And the Montes Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile is enormously elegant. It gives you a hint of Aurelio Montes' most famous wines, such as Purple Angel, a profound expression of the carmenère grape, and Montes Folly, a soaring syrah, both of which crest at more than $60 a bottle.
They sell out very fast when they arrive here.“ … “Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, $21.80 (Chile): “Aurelio Montes crafts some drenchingly rich reds. The first impression is smoky, with hints of mochainfused blackberry. The flavours show sweet-edged chocolate, rich black cherry and cedar. The finish is sustained elegance.“ LCBO # 322586. Food suggestion: Pan-seared filet mignon. Rating: 90.“
They consequently deliver more color and tannins, making Montes Folly richly colored, deep, and powerful, and typically with more than 14 percent alcohol. Only 9,000 bottles are produced in any given vintage. After the blockbuster 2004, the 2005 was a return to the softer and more approachable style of the wine previously seen in 2003. Warm, spicy, lusciously ripe, and immensely drinkable, it will age for up to ten years. SG. Drink: to 2015. Further recommendations: Other great vintages 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. More Montes wines: Montes Alpha M, Purple Angel, Montes Cherub.“
CAPITAL MAGAZINE, Chile, November 2008
DOUGLAS MURRAY SELECTED TOP SALES & MARKETING MANAGER BY HIS PEERS IN THE WINE INDUSTRY Capital (Chile’s version of Fortune or Forbes financial magazine) and Denarius (a branch of Seminarium Penrhyn International) annually selects, by peer voting, the most outstanding executives/managers in all Chilean industries. For 2008 Douglas Murray was again selected the Best Sales & Marketing Manager in the wine industry. The report affirms: “In the 80s he had the difficult task of uplifting Viña San Pedro which was literally “underground”, a challenge he was able to accomplish on account of his 36 years experience in the world of wines. He ironically refers to having to perform “airport work-outs” as his time spent travelling as the partner, founder and director responsible for Viña Montes exports, was extensive. Murray’s greatest challenge was inserting the brand into Asian markets, an experience fit for a book. Service, respect and focusing on the customer, in addition to assigning major significance to closely monitoring world markets, always trying to learn first hand the different cultures he visited were all part of his way of dealing with customers. “ The magazine states: “this analysis is a service to professionalism in managing Chilean companies and a fair recognition to their leaders in every industry”.
MIAMI HERALD, MARICEL E. PRESILLA´S COCINA, U.S.A., August.28, 2008
RISOTTO WITH CHILEAN CARMENÈRE (Risotto al Carmenère) “This elegant, purple-colored risotto was inspired by a classic recipe from the Piedmont region of Italy. Miro Popic¸ uses carmenère, which is considered Chile's signature grape. Serve with an excellent carmenère with intense purple color, chocolate notes and deep plum flavor like Montes Purple Angel from Chile's Colchagua Valley.“
EXAMINER.COM, U.S.A., September 16, 2008
AN ANGEL LANDS IN SAN FRANCISCO By Liza Zimmerman “Chilean wine dynamo Montes just launched its newest wine, NapaAngel, in our market this week. Pioneering winemaker and charm-master Aurelio Montes was making a line of wines so successful from his home country that the winery sells "thousands of cases of Montes in Iceland," according to importer Alex Guarachi of TGIC Importers. He followed his Chilean venture with a property on the other side of the Andes in Argentina. The Kaiken line from Mendoza features both a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Malbec, the great red grape that put Argentina on the map. The line is named after a wild goose that flies over the Andes between Argentina and Chile. Calling Napa Valley a "cathedral of winemaking," Montes said he couldn't resist North American expansion just introduced the 2006 vintages of NapaAngel and NapaAngel Aurelio's Selection. Both are produced at Artesa Winery in Carneros. They are both Napa Cabernet Sauvignons, the first produced from vineyards in Coombsville and the second is sourced from Oak Knoll and Yountville.
THE SUN-HERALD, Australia, August 12, 2007
CHILE MOVING INTO OUR WINE MARKET By Winsor Dobbin First it was the French, now Chilean winemakers are gearing up for an increased assault on the competitive Australian wine trade. Douglas Murray, director and founding partner of leading Chilean wine producer Montes, has spent the last week in Australia and says his company soon hopes to sell
50,000 cases a year here. Chilean wines are extremely popular in Britain and the United States with drinkers seeing them as offering both quality and value for money. "We've been in the Australian market for 15 years and are becoming more visible there's huge growth in the import sector in Australia," Mr Murray said. "Australian consumers recognise quality and value, and many of them are looking for something different to drink. "The chance to sample and taste the wines of Chile is proving increasingly attractive. We find when people taste our wines, they buy them, and come back. "Australia is the leader when it comes to New World wines, and we've learnt a lot from them. We'd like, in turn to double our sales here, but it would be stupid to put a time frame on that." Montes is a leading competitor for many Australian wine exporters, with its wines ranging in price here from $9.99 to $90.“
O ESTADO DE SAO PAULO, Brazil, November 2007
OUR IMPORTER IN BRAZIL IS SELECTED AS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR Ciro Lilla, owner of Mistral, our importer in Brazil, has been selected as Personality of the Year in Gastronomy in Brazil by prestigious national newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo.
The Paladar Awards, organized by O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper, is possibly Brazils most important award for gastronomy. We are very honoured and happy to tell you that, in the most recent edition of this prestigious event, Ciro Lilla has been selected as the Personality of the Year in Gastronomy in Brazil. The newspaper has emphazised his pioneer role in the diffusion of the culture of wine in Brazil, the creation of the successful wine importing companies Mistral and Vinci, and his famous passion for wine, which impels him to search for hard-to-find jewels in the most distant parts of the world. The award has been announced in a special event on Wednesday, November 28th, with many important restaurant owners and journalists present.. The results, which also include awards for the best restaurant dishes in several categories, have been published in the November 29th edition of the newspaper, which is one of the best and most respected in the country.
QUE PASA MAGAZINE, Chile, September 2007
AURELIO MONTES AND DOUGLAS MURRAY AMONGST CHILE’S MOST INFLUENTIAL WINE PERSONALITIES Qué Pasa magazine is Chile’s Time or Newsweek. They set up to determine who Chile’s 25 most influential wine personalities were. The most respected and influential in Chile’s wine sector. Over 150 experts and experienced professionals and opinion leaders contributed to the selection process. Influence was measured as the capacity to lead and open paths both for industry and consumers. Results were: Nº2: Aurelio Montes. Understood how to take domestic wines into a new realm. (Best placed Winemaker). Nº5: Douglas Murray. His contact portfolio is the envy of the industry (Best placed Sales & Marketing Expert).
VIETNAM GOLF MAGAZINE, Vietnam, August 2008
THREE RECOMMENDED MONTES WINES IN VIETNAM THE TIMES, South Africa, October 25, 2007
CHILEAN CHALLENGE By Neil Pendock “In his introduction to The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (Everyman’s Library, 2005) Christopher Hitchens calls Chile “a country shaped like a long, thin jagged blade, forming the littoral of almost an entire continent, and poised to crumble into the ocean leaving only the Andes behind. A place of earthquakes, wine and poets, like some Antarctic Aegean.” And Chris wasn’t too far off the mark with his Macbeth dagger analogy - Chilean wine is set to overtake SA in the all-important UK export market thanks to a 26% volume increase this year.“
By Darren W. Gall …“Below we match some classic Chilean dishes to Chile‘s three greatest wines. Montes Alpha M is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (80 per cent), Merlot (10 per cent), Cabernet Franc (5 per cent) and Petit Verdot (5 per cent). A powerful, perfectly balanced, full-bodied wine with a superbly voluptuous palate, it is best matched with Patagonian lamb, spit-roasted on a wood fire. Aurelio‘s ambitions led him to plant Syrah on the higher slopes of the Mountain Estate. Thus,
“Perfect physical and human terroir for larger than life winemakers like Aurelio Montes who had the idea of planting Syrah on the precipitous slopes of the highest mountain in the Apalta Valley. An abandoned pear orchard full of rocks with a 45 degree slope was the special site he chose, confounding conventional wisdom which said it would be too expensive to clear, plant and would require a circus troupe of acrobats to harvest. And besides, as Australia proves, Syrah likes heat, not the windswept slopes of a blasted mountain. The result is Montes Folly, the first ultra-premium Syrah from Chile, complete with a whacky label from artist Ralph Steadman which is nearly as wild as the contents. With wines like these in the cellar, it comes as no surprise to report that Chile dominates the wine list of Belo Horizonte’s top wine bar Enoteca Decanter: Loja de Vinhos. Number of SA labels on offer: zero. Perhaps its time for WOSA (Wines of SA – the exporters association) to venture out from their Notting Hill (London) comfort zones and promote SA wine in Chile’s backyard.“ *Neil Pendock is South Africa’s leading independent drinks commentator – he has no financial connections with any importer, producer, distributor, retailer, show, competition or restaurant.
MANILA STANDARD TODAY, Philippines, November 20, 2007
TOP 10 CHOICES FROM THE GRAND WINE EXPERIENCE 2007 By Sip Sherwin Lao “The recent Grand Wine Experience had once more solidified the hold of the Joseph brothers (Ralph, Ronnie and Raymond) as the indisputable wine industry kingpins in the country. Now on its seventh year, and stronger than ever in size and magnitude, the Grand Wine Experience boasted 500 different wines and spirits from 20 countries. That is one major feat only the Joseph brothers can pull-off, and no one group nor person, can remotely come close to duplicating. General impression on this event is still very good. But sadly, the New World outnumbered the Old World in lopsided fashion. The top three wine-producing countries in the world, namely the triumvirate of France, Spain and Italy, were loosely represented.
the Montes Folly name was born. This full bodied wine possesses a defined presence of mature dark fruits (berrie‘s marmalade) and cassis, with perfectly integrated vanilla notes coming from the best selection of French new oak barrels. Combined with Beef “Lomo Asado“, this wine is a combination made in gastronomic heaven. Purple Angel is made from 92 per cent Carmenère and 8 per cent Petit Verdot, and features an intense, youthful purple color, which is typical in wines made with concentrated Carmenère. Delicate with hints of chocolate and cigar box aromas, the Carmenère grapes provide the elegance and spiciness, while the Petit Verdot adds structure and the wildness of black berries. A superb wine, which is perfectly suited to “Costillar de Cerdo“ (pork ribs on a bed of spicy mashed potatoes).“
Out of a combined over 400 designated wine regions (or demarcated wine appellations) from these three European stalwarts, I counted just around 12 regions that evening. But the New World wines were extremely impressive. Australia, Chile, Argentina and New Zealand wines were pouring profusely, with major brands well represented. It also seems like the trend of the local industry... New World wines are gradually overshadowing their Old World counterparts.“ “Below are my top 10 choices from the Grand Wine Experience 2007, in alphabetical order, with my personal tasting notes and rating: 3. Montes Purple Angel 2004 Carmenère majority, Colchagua Valley, Chile: Montes remains as one of the most reliable premium brands of any wine country or region; my first time to try the Purple Angel label, and truly a wine to marvel at - Tasting Notes: 'peppercorn, spicy nose, herbaceous, a lot of green pepper flavors, long and deep, lovely flinty finish, quite complex' - Rating: Wine to Impress.“ … “Runner-ups in my top 10 are Montes Alpha 2005 Syrah from Chile… “
JOURNAL GAZETTE.NET, U.S.A., March 8, 2008
CHILEAN WINES FOR THRIFTY TIMES OENOPHILEBLOG.COM, October 2007
A PERFECT DESSERT WINE EPICURIOUS.COM, U.S.A., March 3, 2008
GREAT WINE FOR A SWEET FAREWELL By Natalie Maclean “One of the more popular discussions we shared was about cheap wines, or should I say good value wines? For me, there's absolutely nothing wrong with not wanting to spend more than you have to to drink delicious wine. A higher price tag doesn't guarantee better taste, as recent studies have shown. So why not save some money for traveling to wine country? Here are some of my favorite inexpensive wines from recent tastings. As always please add your own to this list … Montes Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenère 2006, Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile: A beautiful wine with ripe red fruit notes. Fantastic value! 14% XD $14.95 Score: 90/100.“
By Manos Angelakis “Another golden-hued wine, from Chile’s Curico valley this time, the 2006 Montes Late Harvest Gewürztraminer, was the last dessert wine in the tasting. Made from botrytised grapes left hanging on the vine till the end of harvest, this wine is the first bottling of a dessert wine from Montes. Slightly higher in alcohol that its predecessors in the tasting, a little less sweet, just as aromatic. Rated at 90, it is a very good product from one of the best Chilean wineries.“
By Dan and Krista Stockman There are always great wine bargains around, but it can be difficult to know which wines are actually a good buy… We’ve stumbled across wines as inexpensive as $3 a bottle that were fantastic. But when you walk into a store, how do you know what is and what isn’t a good buy? One place to start is the Chilean wine section. Chilean wines have become more popular in recent years, making the selection larger while still providing quality wines under $10. Of course, the more popular the wines become, the more likely they are to become overly mass-produced. That was something we started to notice as we tasted eight Chilean wines with Journal Gazette reporter Angela Mapes Turner, her husband, Shane Turner, and Shane’s parents, Keith and Cindy Turner. We had a selection of mostly reds
SANTÉ MAGAZINE, U.S.A., November 2007
DELICIOUS LATE HARVEST Montes Late Harvest 2006, Botrytised Grapes, Curicó Valley. “Light bodied and floral with simple, light aromas, flavors of pear and peach, and a clean finish. Light cheeses”. SANTÉ MAGAZINE, U.S.A., May 2008
WINE ENTHUSIAST, U.S.A., December 15, 2007
MONTES LATE HARVEST: ONE OF THE BEST DESSERT WINES Here are Wine Enthusiast Editor’s Picks for the best dessert wines to pair with after-dinner treats or to savor alone: 90 Points: Montes Late Harvest 2006, Botrytised Grapes Gewürztraminer (Curicó Valley), $25/375 ml. “The overwhelming majority of wineries in Chile and Argentina have barely spent even a passing effort on late-harvest and other types of sweet wines. But Montes S.A. is an exception, and in years when the weather allows for the formation of botrytis, winemaker and partner Aurelio Montes manages to bottle a late-harvest wine either from Riesling, Gewürztraminer or a combination of both grapes. His 2006 Late Harvest Gewürztraminer is the truest, most consistent dessert wine coming out of South America. Talk about a magnetic opening; this delectable Gewürz blends peach and apricot along with honeyed apple and mulled cider flavors. It’s definitely a spicy little wine, but it’s not the least bit heavy and the mouthfeel is great. Captures the European style of late-harvest dessert wines. – M.S.“
OUR SAUVIGNON BLANC IS RECOMMENDED FOR RESTAURANTS Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Leyda Valley: “Complex aromas and flavors with good weight on the palate. Medium bodied with lively fruit through to the finish. Very good. Steamed shrimp.“
and found that overall, they were pretty good, with some real gems and a couple of dogs… The second wine turned out to be Krista’s favorite, and also happened to be one of the most expensive. The Montes Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenère 2004 ($12.99) was dusty dry with hints of cherry. It was incredibly smooth, with deep, dry, dry red flavors. Yummy!
TERRAVINO 2008, Israel, November 2008 RUTH´S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE, U.S.A.
OUR SYRAH AT RUTH´S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE For the second year Ruth´s Chris Steak House has chosen Montes Alpha Syrah to be part of their Core Wine List, plus they have added the Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon as well. Montes is the only winery from Chile with two placements at Ruth´s Chris (80 restaurants in the US).
TWO SILVER MEDALS TO MONTES WINES Montes Alpha Syrah 2006 and Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008 have been awarded with Silver Medal at the Third Mediterranean International Wine & Spirit Challenge –Terravino 2008– concluded with great success. The event took place in the beautiful city of Eilat, bordering the Red Sea, in the prestigious hotel Isrotel King Salomon with full support and sponsoring from the OIV.
DR. VINO´S WINE BLOG, DRVINO.COM, U.S.A., October 03, 2007
CAN CHILEAN WINES AGE? A MONTES CHALLENGE “Just over thirty years ago, Chilean wines entered the world wine stage. As with the export trajectory of Japanese car manufacturers, Chilean wine makers started by exporting inexpensive but reliable offerings. And as with the Japanese car manufacturers, they eventually became so proficient at the low end that they began to target the high end and focus on quality. Montes is one of the more recent quality producers, more Lexus than Toyota (although they do have reliable wines at $10). Started in 1987 as a partnership between Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, the company now makes wines in Argentina under the Kaiken brand and in Napa, from Rutherford and Coombsville, to be released in 2008. At a recent tasting in New York City with Aurelio Montes, a key question for me was: can Chilean wines age? With eight vintages of the Alpha M (a cabernet-dominant blend, generally about $80 retail) in front of me dating back to 1997, I tasted through to find the answer to be yes but the record is short and mixed. I also found out about the mysterious phenomenon of the “annual rhythm.” First to the tasting. My favorite Alpha M was the 2003. This big, lush wine was well integrated with smooth tannins and notes of blackberries, cassis, and saddle leather. Aurelio suggested it had the stuffing to last another ten years. I could see that. The 2005 was my next favorite, a big, frisky Labrador of a wine with toasty oak notes. It had higher alcohol than the 03 with 14.5% vs 14%. Approachable now in its youth, I would like to see a few years of bottle age on it to see it mellow a bit. You know, a Labrador at the end of a day, sitting by the fire. My next two faves were the 2001 and the 1997. These wines exhibited more maturity and the 2001 was still big and fresh but showed more refinement than the younger vintages. The 1997 had the brick red coloring of older cabernet and did have more mature fruits rather than fresh with a faint mustiness, sort of “grandma’s attic.” But it was rewarding and worthwhile, like an (even) older wine from the Medoc. The 1999 was also solid, drinking well now. Of note, the alcohol level rose from 13.5 in 1997 to 14.9% in 2004, mirroring a trend seen around the wine world. The Da Vinci Code numerologists among you will have noticed that all of these vintages are from oddnumbered years. In the “annual rhythm,” Aurelio
explained to me over lunch that there is indeed vintage variation in Chile despite it being “paradise” for vines, a land spared the vineyard afflictions of phylloxera, mildew, Pierce’s Disease, and summer rain. While some years may be knocked out completely by El Niño, a pattern has emerged where
Chile’s best reds-robust wines, children of the sun and the heat. To balance it out, there is a selection of dessert wines that includes some interesting selections from our country. They are worth looking into. 95 points: Montes Alpha M 2005 An arrogant, almost aristocratic wine that has slowly evolved in the bottle. Given its overwhelming balance, everything seems to be in its place. The spiced, tobacco and cedar notes stand out along with touches of jam and red and black fruits that show themselves readily. In short, this is a seriously “supped up” Montes. Pair with exotic dishes like pheasant. 91 points: Montes Late Harvest 2006, Gewürztraminer, Curicó. You can tell when there is talent and intention behind a wine. Here complexity is king, with rich floral, compote and quince jam notes layered over a rich background of honey. There is sweetness, but it is bathed in a subtle acidity that imprints it with enough nerve and freshness. This would go perfectly with foie gras.
the even-numbered years are lower quality. Aurelio suggested that in a sort of rhythm, the vine pushes one year, and then has quiet year the next. In this tasting, my bottle of 1998 was oxidized, the 2000 was the best of the even years, the 2002 was nonexistent and the 2004 had grippy, peppery tannins but this Alpha M was still “the best of the worst” year according to Aurelio. If Montes is a Lexus, then the winery’s barrel room is the garage. Maybe the Gregorian chants that Aurelio plays at his Feng Shui winery will help soothe those wines from even-numbered years as they slumber.”
VINOS & MAS MAGAZINE, Chile, March 14, 2008
WINE FROM APALTA AND LATE HARVEST By Eugenio García “There is no doubt that our sommelier, Eugenio García, treated himself in the first issue of the year of Vinos & Más. The scores, which may be the highest that he has ever given, show his penchant for the Apalta area, the upper crust of the Colchagua Valley and a region that is destined to produce some of
ESTRATEGIA, Chile, April 15, 2008
CHILEAN WINES BEST IN SHOW AT LOS ANGELES (U.S.A) TASTING “The diplomatic corps recently organized a wine tasting in Los Angeles, California. During the event, which featured selections from over 10 countries, Montes wines were chosen as among the best by two sommeliers. Chile was represented by Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Leyda Vineyard, and Montes Alpha Syrah 2006. The tasting featured the participation of Corie Brown, Wine Writer, Los Angeles Times; Patrick Comiskey, Senior Contributor, Wines & Spirits and Los Angeles Times; and Heather John, Senior Editor and Wine Writer, Bon Appétit; as well as 40 representatives of consulates and commercial offices who also took part in the blind tasting. Patrick Comiskey chose Montes as best in show for the reds. The winery’s entry also was selected as the top wine in the white category by Corie Brown and Patrick Comiskey along with the Slovenian wine Ribolla Gialla 2004 Simci Goriska. Both critics indicated that they could not identify the country of origin but that it was a cleanly made New World wine that was classic and fresh with notes of fruit and lemon.”
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, U.S.A., March 12, 2008
CHILE GAINING REPUTATION FOR LUXURY WINES By Laurie Daniel “If you still think Chile is all about $10 cabernet and chardonnay, you're living in the past. Sure, there are still many modestly priced wines coming from this South American country, but wineries are increasingly testing the waters of the luxury market. Think carmenère, cabernet and the like selling for $50 a bottle or more.
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006: “The nose offers aromas of blackcurrant, chocolate and cigar box. The palate is of rich black cherry and blackcurrant fruits intermixed with subtle vanilla and mocha notes. The well integrated tannin gives supporting structure and suggests the wine can be cellared for a few years. Sweetness: Dry. Body: FullBodied. Food Match: Steaks, Lamb, Aged Cheeses. HK$138.“ Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2006: “Aromas of toffee apple and lovely essences of toasty oak. Fullbodied, rich tropical fruit notes combined with the buttery mid palate, judicious toast on the finish lets the minerality come through. Nice length. Sweetness: Dry. Body: Full-Bodied. Food Match: Chicken, Fish, Risotto. HK$138.“ Montes Alpha Merlot 2006: “It offers an attractive nose of cedar, spice box, cassis
“One of Chile's best-known producers of highend wines is Montes Winery. Among the pricey offerings from Montes are Folly, made from syrah; Purple Angel, mostly carmenère with a splash of petit verdot; and Montes Alpha "M," a blend dominated by cabernet. Winery partner and chief winemaker Aurelio Montes says that when he brought syrah to Chile, "it was an unknown variety," which explains the origins of the name Folly. But he saw similarities in the granitic soils of Apalta and the northern Rhone and thought the grape would be successful. The 2004 Montes Folly ($82) is a ripe, dense wine, with ample blackberry fruit, some nice spice and polished tannins that build on the finish. The 2005 Montes Purple Angel ($48), a blend of fruit from Apalta and another location in Colchagua, displays the characteristic spicy, peppery flavors of carmenere, along with ripe black cherry and firm but approachable tannins. (I haven't tasted the current vintage of Montes Alpha "M," but the wine usually is quite powerful.)“
WATSON´S WINE CELLAR, Hong Kong, September 2008
OUR WINES IN FAMOUS HONG KONG CELLAR NEWS Montes Alpha M 2005: “Nose of coffee and bittersweet cocoa, with polished, racy notes of blackcurrant, fig and loam on the palate. The long finish has a nice minerally spine. Sweetness: Dry. Body: Medium to Full-Bodied. Food Match: Steaks, Lamb, Aged Cheese. HK$535.“
EL MERCURIO, Chile, April 26, 2008
A GREAT WINE By Begoña Uranga “There has been a lot of news over the past few weeks. One of the highlights is the launch of Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, an exceptional wine that experts have received with enthusiasm. This Syrah is produced in the Apalta Valley, whose characteristics are very similar to those of the Rhône Region of France. The tasting notes define it as ruby red with subtle purple notes. The bouquet shows it to be a wine of great elegance and concentration, with notes of black fruit, leather and spices accompanied by aromas of tobacco and chocolate courtesy of the 12 months that the wine was aged in French oak barrels. It is highly concentrated and smooth, with soft, silky tannins and a long and pleasant finish. Ideal for exotic meats, with a potential for 10 years in the cellar. This is definitely a wine to experience.”
QUE PASA MAGAZINE, Chile, April 18, 2008
A NEW CLASSIC and black cherry. These elements come through to the palate, and a touch of vanilla and toast followed by a medium long and smooth finish. Sweetness: Dry. Body: Medium-Bodied. Food Match: Pasta, Steaks, Turkey. HK$138.“ Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2006: “Intense and elegant nose with predominance of strawberries and flowery hints that all together makes this Pinot Noir a very lively, harmonious and generous wine. In the palate is clean, well balanced, with soft rounded tannins and a good level of acidity. The wine is lengthy in the mouth showing a well integrated and balanced oak. Sweetness: Dry. Body: Full-Bodied. Food Match: Duck, Veal, Grilled Meats. HK$148.“ Montes Alpha Syrah 2006: “This wine has a stylish bouquet of blackcherries intermixed with a smoky spiciness. The 10% of Cabernet Sauvignon in the wine adds structure and notes of cassis and berries. Strong and full-bodied, with soft and mature tannins accompanied by a long, elegant and satisfying finish. Sweetness: Dry. Body: Full-Bodied. Food Match: Roast Beef, Lamb, Stew. HK$138.“
Montes Alpha Syrah 2006: “Though it is a young winery with a line of wines that is also under 30, the Alpha of Montes wines are already a classic. They have an identifiable label, a style that is easy to recognized, and they have positioned themselves quickly on the market. Now it is the 2006 Syrah from Apalta’s turn. This wine speaks the same language as its sisters, revealing notes of black and ripe fruit, like blackberries, as well as black mineral like graphite. In general, this is a demanding wine with a fairly high alcohol content and wood that has yet to completely settle into itself. This is an interesting selection with stimuli that seem to snowball. It becomes more complex and complete with every sip, full of taste textures that will become more and more balanced over time. Today, Alpha Syrah 2006 should be served with roast meat seasoned with black pepper that complements its potency and a sweet onion puree that will help smooth out the rough edges. Tomorrow, it can be paired with a juicy skirt steak with yucca fries. Why not? The new classics are for today, tomorrow and the day after.”
VAIL DAILY.COM, COLORADO U.S.A., September 18, 2007
MONTES MALBEC IS A CHILEAN RED THAT DOESN´T DISAPPOINT DAILY STAFF REPORTS By Caramie Schnell, Arts & Entertainment Editor Montes Malbec 2006, wine of the month at Beaver Liquors, usually $12.99. “Malbec (similar to cabernet sauvignon) is a varietal known mostly in South America and Argentina specifically, but Chile exports close to three million cases of wine a year, including Malbec. Even better, most of the bottles fall in the under $15 range. The Montes Malbec is a Chilean red that marries fruit flavors with a hint of oak. The wine, made from grapes grown in the Colchagua Valley, is aged for six months in American oak barrels.” “I found (the Montes) Malbec to be a little less fruit driven, still nice, still that “Merlot on steroids,” but a little more elegant, and a little less powerful than their Argentine counterpoints,” said Mickey Werner, the wine guy at Alpine Wine and Spirits in West Vail. “My advice is to let the intensely deep purple hued wine breath for 10 minutes- it made a huge difference. On the nose, the wine smells of blackberry and spice. In the mouth, the wine is spicy and intense, but it finishes smooth- especially after it sits for a few minutes. The wine´s label recommends pairing the wine with meat and “strongly flavoured sauces”. “The Chilean and Argentine diet is either fish or steak,” Werner said, “so it would have to be a steak.” “I personally paired a glass with a few dark chocolate M&M´s - a perfect end to the day”.
and mountain peaks. One-quarter of the 48 wines we tasted were $12 and under, and of those, three made it into our list. The panel's top two are priced at $19 and $25. As one of the panelists said, these are wines that would be selling for five times the amount if they were from certain California wine regions. Rating: Three Stars Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Colchagua Valley ($25). Dark, nuanced and ripe with plenty of body and fruit followed by secondary notes of vanilla and orange zest. It is made of 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 10 percent Merlot, and aged in French oak. Although the nose is at first closed, it opens up to subtle complexities. It's clearly a young wine and can take cellaring. Aurelio Montes, an icon in Chilean winemaking, found a microclimate perfectly suited to Bordeaux red varietals. This is an intense, fullblooded wine from a single estate in Apalta. Tightly wound, it's young enough to need some decanting beforehand.“
tannic oak, high percentage cocoa chocolate and some thick cut smoked peppered bacon. The medium tannic smoky taste is trained into a pleasing subordinate soft balance and fruity trick filled finish. Risqué has put a leash on his desires to drink it all now. Instead, he highly recommends you cuddle at least a kennel’s worth (case) and place this Big Dog in your cellar and whip it (don’t do this to your dog or boyfriend) into obedience as it is definitely going to improve with age. Alcohol: 13.5% ($20).”
VINHO & GASTRONOMIA, ARACAJU, Brazil, December 2007
WINE RECOMMENDED IN BRAZIL By William Kerne, Consultant for EnoGastronómico Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon was chosen the Wine of the Week by prestigious chef, enophile and Brazilian columnist William Kerne of Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil. Kerne described the Cabernet as “a great Chilean red inspired by the wines of Bordeaux. Concentrated and very refined, with a finish that has medium persistence and a harmonious presence of wood that comes from 12 months of aging in French oak barrels. This wine has a good pricequality ratio.”
PLATOS Y COPAS.CL, Chile, March 14, 2008 RISQUÉ SOMMELIER, U.S.A., March 2008 SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, sfgate.com, U.S.A., August 17, 2007
A GREAT CHILEAN CABERNET The Chronicle Wine Selections By Olivia Wu “Remember when certain Chilean Cabs were the count-on-it bargain reds? Well, Chilean Cabs are still around - in fact, they're exploding - and they offer very good value. Money and capital have poured into the country, and well-known vintners from France's Bordeaux and Loire regions, as well as California's Robert Mondavi, have invested heavily in this land of sun
THE ALPHA POSITION
Montes Alpha 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, D.O. Colchagua Valley, Chile: “Assuming the Alpha position is everything in Business, Society, Sex (doesn’t mean you are not a top) and in Wine. This wine barks dominance as a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon that is off the leash. In glass the wine is “best in show” with a beautiful deep ruby color. As Risqué buries his nose deep in the aromas, the first sniff is a big grape scent with developing characteristics of exotic spice; cinnamon, nutmeg and cedar shavings with licorice and a little tar all wrapped up in a toasty French oak woodiness. The delish flavors evolve… tart cherry, rhubarb,
VIÑA MONTES PRESENTS ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON “The angel that watches over all of Viña Montes’ wines presents Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. This is the faithful expression of the varietal, which has been cultivated in Chile for over 150 years. In this case, it gives the wine a characteristic and intense ruby red color and aromas that evoke currants, chocolate and tobacco, achieving an optimal balance with the oak. The grapes come from the Apalta property located near Santa Cruz, which is considered the best place for the production of red wine in Chile. Aged in French barrels for 12 months, this is the perfect wine to cellar. Available in specialized shops.
INVITE MAGAZINE (EL MERCURIO DE VALPARAISO), Chile, April 16, 2008
MONTES’ NEWEST LABEL THE VANCOUVER SUN, Canada, April 19, 2008
EXCELLENT CHARDONNAY IN CANADA
DECANTER.COM, U.K, March 27, 2008
WHITE WINE OF THE WEEK Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2005, Casablanca Valley, Chile: “This year Montes is 20 years old. More often than not its red wines have got the attention, yet the whites also deliver consistent quality. This offering has a nose that boasts substantial amounts of slightly sweet pineapple fruit (and oak), while in the mouth there´s a balancing streak of minerality and a long finish. Drink up to 2012.£9.99”.
By Anthony Gismondi, Special to The Sun “Today, we look at several takes on the ever-popular chardonnay, still the white wine of choice for most drinkers on a daily basis.“ … “Back to Chile and the Casablanca Valley for the Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2005. Again, there are cool Casablanca aromas of pear, nettle, and green peach waft from the glass. On the palate, it remains calm and cool with more pear and apple pie crust with citrus mineral notes. Lean and fresh and ready for most seafood and white meats. Excellent finesse for the money.“
DECANTER, U.K., June 2008.
TWO MONTES WINES RECOMMENDED BY DECANTER BUYING GUIDE Montes Limited Selection Cabernet-Carmenère 2006, Colchagua Valley, £7.99. “Appealing toasty and spicy nose. Oaky but with good integration. Some nice spicy fruit underneath. Good. From 2008. (GB). (15,2 points).” Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Leyda Valley, £9.50. “Palate still quite fresh. Green, fruit salad, capsicum and passion fruit flavours. Clean firm finish. Good. From 2008. (GB). (15 Points)”
4 STARS TO OUR CLASSIC MERLOT ★★★★ 89 Points: Montes Classic Series Merlot 2006,
Colchagua Valley. “This delightful red starts off with a dry bouquet of red cherry and raspberry aromas; some oak and mocha spice notes emerge and the fruit aromas shift toward blacker fruits, with cassis making a notable appearance; surprisingly rich and complex on the palate; creamy blackberry, fruit fills the mouth; a long finish keeps you coming back for more. ($11).“
If we add to this the high temperatures to which the vines are exposed, there is no doubt that the expression will be equal to or perhaps even better than that of the wines from the famous Côtes du Rhône in France. The strong thermal oscillation manifested in cold nights adds freshness and an admirable potency. According to one of last year’s issues of Wine Spectator, Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, which is already available in Chile, managed to place itself among the top 30 wines in the world upon release.
OZ CLARKE 250 BEST WINES BUYING GUIDE 2009
CHILE COMES OUT ON TOP
BEVERAGE DYNAMICS, U.S.A., May/June 2008
By Alfredo López Jiménez “Viña Montes’ new Syrah is the fruit of a French vine that was imported from Rhône. It was grown in the Apalta Valley –in the Colchagua region-, where the granite hillsides give this varietal a unique vigor. The grapes grow in a moderate and balanced manner and are then transformed into an elegant wine with spiced and fruity notes.
The wine world’s most famous and charismatic critic has just published his 250 Best Wines Buying Guide 2009. The first chapter lists Oz’s Top 40 wines of the year and Chile takes pride of place with two wines. Oz Clarke’s comments on these two classic new-wave Chilean wines serve to illustrate how much progress Chile has made in establishing its quality credentials in the competitive world of wine… Else where in the Guide, 17 Chilean wines are in the “Top 100 wines for under £10” section, and 4 of them are Montes wines: Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2006, Casablanca Valley; Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Leyda Valley; Montes Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Casablanca Valley and Montes Alpha Syrah 2006, Apalta, Colchagua Valley.
This wine is an intense ruby red in the glass with glimmers of purple, which shows that the wine in this bottle is highly faithful to its varietal. The bouquet features notes of ripe red fruit, a bit of cherry, berries, blackberries and purple plums enveloped in a sophisticated hint of ripeness. All of its youth and freshness appears in the mouth, and though it presents a robust body and certain degree of creaminess, it does not leave aside a certain floral presence with imaginative touches of violet and figs. With an excellent potential for cellaring for over 10 years, we recommend enjoying this wine with exotic meats or Asian dishes, or French-style with a delicate leg of lamb prepared with fruit sauces or piece of venison fillet accompanied by sweet, par-boiled carrots.”
HANCOCKS TRADE E-MAIL, New Zealand, April 2008
WINE OF THE WEEK HARPERS, U.K., December 2007
HARPERS CHOICE Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2006, Leyda Valley, £9.99, HwCg. “The first attempt at this Leyda Pinot and very good it is too. Reminiscent of lamb roast dinners and rosemary herbs on the nose with good concentration, medium body and ripe low tannins, there´s a lick of coffee toast on the finish from 12 months in new oak. Released mid - 2008”.
By Gavin Hubble Montes Limited Selection Cab-Carmenère 2006 “The fruit for this exciting wine comes from their "La Finca" Estate in the Apalta Valley (Santa Cruz D.O., a sub-denomination of Colchagua Valley). The harvest was so good this vintage, Aurelio evaluated releasing a full Carmenère wine, but after several blending sessions decided that this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carmenère brought forward the best of both varieties. Aged in American oak for six months and with only one soft filtering, it has excellent mouth feel and balance. The wine is strong in colour, with a deep ruby red filling the glass. On the nose you have butterscotch and the subtle spiciness makes it appealing, with a strong personal character. The well integrated vanilla flavours come
LA TERCERA, Chile, February 17, 2008
AN ELEGANT PINOT “I tried the new 2006 Pinot Noir by Viña Montes and loved it. Made from grapes grown in the Leyda Valley, this is a balanced wine whose red fruits are not eclipsed by the touches of vanilla and tobacco that come from the barrel. Only 2,500 cases were produced. Available at all Mundo del Vino stores. “
WINE ENTHUSIAST, U.S.A., December 2007
MONTES CABERNET SAUVIGNON IS ONE OF THE TOP 100 BEST BUYS OF 2007
VINOS Y MAS MAGAZINE, Chile, March 14, 2008
A NEW MONTES ALPHA: PINOT NOIR “Aurelio Montes del Campo, the enologist at Viña Montes, presented his most recent creation: the Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2006. This 100% Pinot Noir, a varietal that is considered the white of red wines, comes from Leyda, a cool area in the San Antonio Valley. For Aurelio Montes Jr., who is committed to making the best Pinot Noir in the country, this wine is notable because of its fresh notes, aromas of red fruit and pleasant floral tones. It should ideally be served at between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius and is the best partner for stuffed mushrooms or tuna sashimi.”
from the oak aging, and adds complexity and elegance. The palate is warm and mouth filling with balanced rich fruit from the Cabernet and Carmenere grapes. This is a medium to full bodied wine but yet soft and friendly in the palate due to the sweet and firm tannins of the Carmenere component. Cellaring Potential: Drinking well now, plus will age for another 5-6 years with careful cellaring. Suggested Food Matches: Perfect wine match with Lamb shanks, Fillet steak, even soft Brie and crusty bread. 90 Points - Beverage Dynamics“
Wine Enthusiast magazine selected the Best ValuePriced wines of the year, wines that should taste even better for being priced well. Our Montes Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (#13) is included as one of the Top 100 Best Buy Wines of 2007. According to Wine Enthusiast, less than 10 percent of the approximately 10,000 wines reviewed merit this designation. We are happy to be included in this elite grouping. 90 Points: Montes Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Colchagua Valley), $12. “Smells nice, with notes of leather and earth accenting the deep fruit that drives the bouquet. The palate is perfectly ripe and full of cassis and berry flavors, while the finish is jazzed up by touches of coffee, char and baked fruit. Shows a fine texture and grip that goes beyond what you normally get in a wine of this price.“
THE WINE GUIDES, U.K., February 29, 2008
AN INTENSE SAUVIGNON BLANC By The Wine Guides Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Leyda Valley: “Made under the expert eye of Aurelio Montes, this is a showcase for the true character of Sauvignon Blanc. Intense aromatics and a concentrated palate of tropical and citrus fruits are the result of cool temperatures and extended ripening time for the grapes. Drink on its own or with delicately flavoured fish.“
WINETALK.COM, U.S.A., October 2007
MONTES ALPHA: WORLD CLASS WINES “My experience with Chilean wine has led me to believe that there is tremendous potential in this wine producing country, however most of the wines that we have in this market are average at best. Montes Alpha is one of the few names that you can count on from the $20 price range all the way to their top level wine this Montes M which can compete with anything from anywhere in the world at the top range of quality. This is no surprise to those in the know about Chilean wine as Aurelio Montes is considered one of the leading figures in Chile and has been trying the hardest for the longest to produce world class wine. This wine is one of the few standout wines from South America which if served blind will stand up to some of the best from around the world.“
restlessly, eager to whip the Dallas Mavericks again; we couldn't help but stare way up at them as we worked through a leisurely afternoon meal.“ … “High marks go to the service and to at least one somewhat-reasonably priced wine, a glass of Montes Chardonnay from Chile's Casablanca Valley ($7) that was ideal with the fish dishes -- and a bit of stargazing.“
FOOD & WINE, U.S.A., December 2008
MONTES CLASSIC: SPECTACULAR VALUE CABERNET Our Montes Classic Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 has been selected as one of the “Global Value Cabernets” by Food & Wine. “Big and bold, with purple-black fruit that recalls black plums, this simple but appealing Cabernet comes from vineyards in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. An addition of 15 percent Merlot helps soften the firm tannins. ($13).”
STAR-TELEGRAM, Fort Worth, U.S.A., May 2, 2008
MONTES CHARDONNAY IN DALLAS Restaurant Review: The Conservatory in Dallas has a menu that steals the show. By June Naylor “Popping into the newly revamped Conservatory in the Rosewood Crescent Court in Dallas last weekend, my family figured we'd find a good place to have a lovely lunch. What we didn't count on was going home with cricks in our necks. That's because the bonus of dining at the Crescent last week was a bit of sky-high stargazing. The hotel played host to the visiting New Orleans Hornets, towering young men who roamed the lobby
MEN´S HEALTH MAGAZINE, U.S.A., June 2008
MONTES SAUVIGNON BLANC SELECTED AS THE BEST WHITE WINE Men‘s Health magazine searched every aisle to find the 131 Best Grocery Foods for Men. In the Beverages & Snacks category, our Montes Sauvignon Blanc 2007 from Leyda Valley was selected as the Best White Wine under $20. According to Men‘s Health, “The zesty lime and pink grapefruit punch lend the type of acidity that goes perfectly with summer foods.“Per 4-ounce glass: 90 calories.“ … “How we chose the winners? We created this year's list by first comparing the nutrition labels of competing brands in each of our categories. Bonus points were given to those products with more protein and fiber, and less added sugar and sodium. We also took calories per serving into consideration, but didn't penalize for fat—since it adds flavor, helps keep hunger at bay, and is part of a healthy diet if it doesn't lead to excessive calorie intake. Once we pared our choices down, we matched them in a head-to-head taste test to determine the victor. As for draws, the nod went to the product with the fewest ingredients.“
DECANTER.COM, June 2008
SCREWCAPS ARE BEST: DECANTER VERDICT By Adam Lechmere “It's official: screwcap is the best closure for the vast majority of wines, both red and white. This is the opinion of Decanter magazine's most senior contributors, from Steven Spurrier to Linda Murphy in California and Huon Hooke in Australia, tastings director Christelle Guibert and restaurant critic Brian St Pierre. In Montes we feel we are in the right track. We are using screwcaps in four of our best whites wines: Montes Classic Sauvignon Blanc, Montes Classic Chardonnay, Montes Cherub and Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc. In an article entitled '50 Reasons to Love Screwcaps' in the August issue of the magazine, our wine experts are unequivocal. 'Given the choice of the same wine with screwcap or cork, I'd choose the screwcap every time,' Sunday Times wine writer Joanna Simon writes. And her sentiments are echoed by Spurrier – 'the Stelvin is one of the best things to have happened to wine in my lifetime'; Hooke – 'for delicate young white wines … the screwcap is the best closure we have'; Charles Metcalfe – 'in short, they deliver your wine from the bottle in the state that the producer intended.' “50 Reasons to Love Screwcaps“ is published in Decanter magazine August issue.
GAZETTE.NET, Maryland, U.S.A., October 7, 2008
CHILE NEARLY PERFECT FOR WINE MAKING By Louis Marmon “Carmenère remains Chile's signature red grape … Made with a splash of Petit Verdot, the gorgeous, full-bodied Montes Purple Angel 2005 ($56) is deep and intense, and has dark plum, black fruit and chocolate flavors.“ … “Syrah is planted in only 4 percent of Chilean vineyards, but it is clearly a varietal to watch. The Montes Alpha Syrah 2005, Apalta Vineyard ($25) has 4 percent Viognier that gives it a slight floral aroma along with its beautifully rich black cherry, strawberry and cassis flavors.“
MUCH WELCOMED VISIT BY COSTCO, USA We were honored to host a group of Costco’s top brass from the U.S.A. and other countries. Alex Guarachi, our U.S.A. Importer, traveled to be with them. Costco is one of our best and most beloved clients in the U.S.A. and beyond.
COSAS MAGAZINE, Chile, November 21, 2008
BRITISH SOMMELIER MEETING AT MONTES “From valley to valley, from winery to winery, from glass to glass and from one variety to the next, a group of sommeliers from the most outstanding restaurants in the UK – such as “Zuma“ or “Rousillon“ in London- shared a week tasting Chilean wines and covering the main wineproducing regions of Chile. The UK is Chile’s main export market and at the last “Sommelier Summit UK“ a group of 10 outstanding British sommeliers and the “Imbibe” magazine Editor visited Chile which allowed them to learn about Chilean valleys, wines, quality and
diversity”… Montes was the host vineyard in the Colchagua valley, carrying out a seminar and a food and wine pairing luncheon… “at the Apalta Valley in Colchagua specifically at the Montes Vineyard, Sommeliers enjoyed some of our land’s best Syrah´s. A variety which until the 1990s did not exist in Chile, today however, it expects to become a major representative of the Chile’s wine industry”.
NEW IMPORTERS IN SAINT LUCIA AND ARUBA We welcome new importers from Saint Lucia: Salvador U. Perez Vidal from Wines, Spirits & Duty Free Manager. St. Lucia. Distillers/Barbay Ltd. Castries - St. Lucia. In Saint Lucia we attended a presentation by our new importer organized at The Cliff at Cap Restaurant. We are very proud to learn that Ross Stevenson is managing the Cap Maison Resort where the presence of our wines Montes and Montes Alpha is extensive.
OUR VISIT TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC “El Catador” is a company specialized in fine wines and holds extensive distribution channels in Dominican Republic. Its founder, Giuseppe Bonarelli Pascale, heads “El Catador” and sons Giuseppe Bonarelli and Piero Bonarelli perform an excellent and commendable job in the trade. It was a real pleasure sharing our time with them during our recent visit at which time we introduced our MONTES and KAIKEN wines at activities specially directed at their main clients, sommeliers and distinguished sales team.
Guiseppe Bonarlli, Sonia Montanares and Pietro Bonarelli
Aruba: Licores Aruba N.V. / Romar Trading Co. N.V., Oranjestad, Aruba.
TASTING IN PUERTO RICO It was once again an honor to visit our importer B. Fernández and meeting our clients at the “Almacén del Vino”. José Juan Hernández, Director of Wine Sales organized a remarkable tasting which was a true delight!
New York, U.S.A., December 5, 2007
Vero Beach, Florida, U.S.A.,
WINE AND BOWLING FOR BENEFITS
TREASURE COAST WINE FESTIVAL
From high balls to gutter balls, Cornerstone Communications’ First Annual Bowling Ball Tournament raised over $2,000 for CancerCare for Kids®. On December 5, 2007, members of the media and wine educators gave their spare time at Bowlmor Lanes to support CancerCare and to battle for the title of Epicurean All-Star.
1. Dinner in Oriente Restaurant (Costa d’ Este Beach Hotel) Chef David Rodriguez created a sensational Five Course menu perfectly paired with wine offerings from Montes.
Among the many prizes awarded, the Wine Enthusiast teams—the “Cellar Dwellers” and the “Glassy Winged Sharp Shooters”—scored with the Most Spirited award. The Wine & Spirits “Jerobums” and the “I Can’t Believe its Not Gutter” Cottages & Gardens team came in second and third place, respectively. The Wine Spectator “Wild Turkeys” took home the Gold Medal for highest team score. Congratulations to Cornerstone Communications, our full-service public relations agency in New York!
3. Grand Wine Tasting under the Grand Tent at Riverside Park An afternoon sampling wine, observing demonstrations, attending a seminar or cheering on your favorite chef in the Mini-Iron Chef Competition. Aprox. 1000 people in attendance to this event. . rray and Angela Calad Kara Knier, Dennis Mu
Cornerstone Team Chandni Patel, Alison Kircher, Alison Seibert, Beth Cotenoff, Marsha Palanci, Cornerstone President, sitting in the middle, Mary Gorman, Jennifer O´Flanagan, Lizzie Hanna.
2. Wine Auction It was held under the Grand Tent on the grounds of Riverside Park. The black tie gala is a one-of-a-kind silent auction. Guests are seated for dinner and the live auction. Fritz Hatton, of the Napa Valley Wine Auction, auctioned superior lots of wine from around the world, unique dining experiences and exotic travel opportunities, such as a trip for two to the Colchagua Valley and a Montes Folly poster signed by Ralph Steadman.
A VERY SPECIAL FRIEND IN ONTARIO, CANADA John Brandon, (Ontario Director) from Whitehall, our importers of Canada, sent us this lovely picture. Mr Brandon said: “Here is the picture of our dog Monty. His registered name is Monty's Alpha. He is currently 4 years old and a very valuable member of our family.“
Chefs Tory McPha prepare for an Iron il and David Rodriguez Chef competition.
MONTES IN WINE O´CLOCK SHOP, PORTUGAL
Auctioneer Fritz Hatton
Angela Calad (left) and Juan Carlos Contalba
You can find our Montes and Montes Alpha wines in these exclusive Portuguese wine shops in Porto, Lisbon, Aveiro and they will open a new shop in Algarve this year.
MONTES IN CHINA
BANK OF COMMUNICATION VIP PARTY
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF SAM´S WINE CELLAR
On Friday 11th January 2008, the Bank of Communication, Nanshan Branch, Shenzhen, hosted a thank you party for their VIP customers. When the Lunar New Year approaches, it is customary to express gratitude for the patronage of loyal clients. Some 100 VIP customers (each having over RMB1 million deposit), were invited to partake the fun and share the fine wine and food at the Edmond's Gallery showcase club premises this very day. A well chosen pack of wines - Montes no less was the fitting parting gift for each guest, putting a full stop to a fine year of business past and heralding another excellent year for the Bank and its customers.
On sep.14,2007, Sam's Wine Cellar opened for business in Central City Plaza, Futian, Shenzhen. Sam's Wine Cellar is an alliance store of the Edmond's Gallery retail network, part of the CWP group. The grand opening ceremony took place on the center stage of the plaza, featuring welcoming speeches, wine tasting and entertainment programs by singers and musicians. Edmond Wong, CWP Wine Culture Director, was keynote speaker and presided over the ceremony. Some 300 guests were invited to partake in the festivity. "We are very pleased to join the EG Network. They offer a truly excellent and very competitive range of wines from all over the world. Wines such as Montes from Chile are much welcomed by our customers. We are lucky to be working with EG and we are grateful for their excellent support," commented Mr. Sam Wang, owner of the business.
THE GRAND OPENING OF LONG XUAN SHARKS FIN SEAFOOD RESTAURANT Congratulations to China Wine Platform! Yet another customer restaurant is joining its long client list, as part of the Edmond’s Gallery Retail Network. On a bright, sunny and propitious Monday afternoon, 21st January 2008, amid much fanfare, Long Xuan Sharks Fin Seafood Restaurant announced its official grand opening. Long Xuan is situated in the heart of Long Hua, Dong Guan, home to Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturer. Long Xuan is in the same complex as Ting Yuan Hotel, which throughout the year plays host to a large number of visitors, including guests from overseas. With seating capacity of some 1,000 guests, the restaurant offers gourmet fine dining and naturally wine is an integral part of their menu. Again, CWP Director of Wine Culture, Edmond Wong, is on hand to assist with the spread of the wine culture. Part of the grand opening program included a speech by Edmond, who was warmly applauded by the audience. CWP’s EG Selection of wines is supplied exclusively on these premises, with the sumptuous Montes range as its major feature. Indeed, the numerous customers of Long Xuan can look forward to tasting excellentwines from Montes.
MONTES IN THE FAST LANE
MONTES IN SOUTHERN CHINA
Recently, through the good connections of CWP distributor in Jiangmen City, Guangdong, a smart Montes display was showcased in the local Nissan Showroom. The Montes range of wines has meanwhile gained increasing notoriety in the Jiangmen area. Many well-heeled citizens of this prosperous city are pleasantly surprised to see their favorite Chilean wines in the Nissan showroom when they come to see the latest models of this popular brand of automobile. Needless to say, the hard-working citizens of Jiangmen deserve Montes – the best of Chile brought to them by CWP. Indeed, Montes along with Jiangmen and Nissan, is moving forward in the fast lane!
The "Guangdong Council for the development promotion of small and medium enterprises" hosted a wine tasting party in its business club in Guangzhou on 24th Nov 2007. Montes was the only wine to be tasted during the event. The general manager of the business club also confirmed that he would use Montes wines for the Christmas and New Year party.
CHINA, October 2007
MONTES SELECTED BY BMW CHINA FOR PROMOTIONAL EVENTS China Wine Platform, country distributor for Montes in China, recently signed a contract with BMW China to supply a special selection of wines for all their promotional events in China. Beating a strong field of competitors of wine suppliers in China, CWP won the right to supply Montes wines over a period of 12 months across China on an exclusive basis.
MONTES IN “THE CITY OF SPRING“ IN CHINA These pictures show the newly opened Le Vine Boutique Cigar and Fine Wines, inside the Wanda Golf Club, Kunming, Yunnan (1600 meters above sea level. Kunming the city of Spring). This exclusive Golf Course is members only to the affluent Chinese and Singaporeans. Air Asia flies direct almost every day into Kunming from Singapore and Malaysia. As shown in the pictures, almost all wines on display are Montes.
When asked the reasons behind this selection, Mr. Gregory Li, CWP Executive Director said, "Our sales team had worked very hard on this project. Each company tendering its wines had to give a tasting session to the BMW panel of judges. We were very confident since we have an excellent selection of wines from various countries including Montes. Germans are well known for being very serious about their business and so they went through the tasting with us very meticulously. In the end we beat many much larger companies to win this contract with BMW China." "BMW China will in the next 12 months be holding many promotional events in various cities across China." Mr. Li added," We expect a great deal of exposure for the various wines that feature in this special BMW selection. BMW is a top brand name, and of course we are very proud to be working with them, and we are especially happy for the various brands of wine we represent that have been included in the BMW selection. We are especially proud of the fact that the BMW tasting panel has selected Montes. Indeed, it is a great honor for all of us."
MONTES AT MAISON BOULUD, BEIJING, CHINA The best wine from Chile deserves to be listed in the best places, and so the China Wine Platform team is adding yet another fantastic venue to the list where Montes wines grace the menu. One of the best restaurants in Beijing is to be found in the Legation Quarter: Maison Boulud. In fact, during the 2008 Beijing Olympics the hottest restaurant in all Beijing was Maison Boulud. Situated inside the old 1930's American Embassy compound, now known in Beijing as the Legation Quarter, Maison Boulud is the most upscale fashionable French restaurant in town. Judging from the daily long waiting queue, it is a huge success. Congratulations to: General Manager, Mr. Ignace Lecleir; Chef Sommelier, Mr. Koen Masschelein; Chef Boulud (3 star Michelin). China Wine Platform is proud to have Montes icon wines and the award winning Montes Alpha Syrah listed among other distinguished wines on the outstanding Maison Boulud wine list. Congratulations!
CHINA DAILY, HK EDITION, Hong Kong, June 17, 2008
WHEN IT´S ONE STOP TO SOUTH POLE, ENJOY A REVIVING CHILEAN WINE By Maggie Beale “Known to all and sundry as the inspiration behind the Chilean quality wine scene, Douglas Murray is the man who spearheaded the Discover Chile initiative of the 1990's in Asia. He is a director of Montes Alpha Wines along with partner Aurelio Montes the legendary winemaking pioneer. Montes forged the Chilean wine scene by creating superpremium wines, including the Montes Alpha range, and icons such as Montes Alpha M and Montes Folly. Montes also led the way to quality by planting on steep mountain slopes. Aware of their expertise for two decades, it was with anticipation that I approached this tasting. Included with two vintages of my favorite "M", there would be my first taste of Purple Angel by Montes and Montes Pinot Noir. The first time I visited Montes in Chile several years ago, I tasted the Montes Alpha "M". This time I tasted the "M" 2004, a blend of 80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 Merlot, 5 Cabernet Franc, and 5 Petit Verdot. The ruby-red wine didn't let me down, it still had all the exotic aromas of luscious blackberries, Moroccan spices and smoky minerals. It was deep, velvety and sweet, with ripe dark berry flavors, supple tannins and a late-arriving licorice quality. And the following vintage Montes Alpha "M" 2005 has an elegant well-defined character. Albeit tiny, the percentage of Petit Verdot adds an extra element of complexity. The wine will keep for at least 20 years. It is balanced, full-bodied and velvety on mid-palate with a rewarding, lingering aftertaste of mature grapes and acidity that reflects its structure. The Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2006: Is a delicate ruby red with an intense nose of rare Alpine strawberries and spring flowers. Generous on the palate, it is well balanced, the tannins are softly rounded and it has a good level of acidity. The finish is long with well integrated and balanced oak. Due to the very intense microbiologic control practiced at Montes' winery, this wine was very lightly filtered. I found it a very good example of what can be done with Pinot Noir - and expertise. Originally from Bordeax, the Carmenère vine resurfaced in Chile only in 1993, after being believed
extinct since phylloxera hit its original home around 1880. In Chile, its sole home at the moment, it is considered the Chilean variety returned from extinction. A robust wine with an ALV of 14 percent, the Purple Angel by Montes is made from vines grown in Colchagua Valley, the blend is 92 percent Carmenère and 8 of Petit Verdot. Half the Carmenère and the Petit Verdot come from Montes' La Finca de Apalta estate, the other half of the Carmenère comes from Montes' Archangel estate in Marchigue, adding more potency and strength. Carefully hand-picked and unfiltered, the wine spends 18 months in new French oak, they practice sustainable winegrowing. I found the Purple Angel by Montes 2005 to be almost purple in color, very juicy looking and very typically Carmenère. On the nose there are dark chocolate and cigar box aromas. On the palate; fully ripe blackberries.
Mr. Wang YongGan and Greg outside PuXi Wine Cellar Hohot, Inner Mongolia.
MONTES IN INNER MONGOLIA Our dear importer in China, Gregory Li, from China Wine Platform, sent us this picture from the interesting part of the world. Mr. Li said: “We already have a dealer in Hothot, Inner Mongolia. We are working on Outer Mongolia (which is another country, by the way) and also Tibet Lhasa Xizang Autonomous Region. We hope before long we will also be seeing the Montes angel in these far-flung cities.“
GOLD MEDAL TO OUR SYRAH IN SINGAPORE Although it's full bodied with lots of ripe fruit in the mouth there's a certain elegance with just enough spiciness to hold interest without being "in your face". It has a long satisfying finish. Altogether the Purple Angel 2005 by Montes is a lovely wine. The wines are available at Watson's Wine Cellars outlets. Interestingly, premises at Montes were built according to Feng Shui beliefs with all the elements placed in accordance with the ancient Chinese philosophy to assure harmony in a confident environment, an idea from Douglas Murray himself, who is also behind the "angel" emblem on all Montes labels, the quality seal that states "From Chile with Pride". Murray is certain of the angels unfailing and continuous support.“
Montes Alpha Syrah 2006 won a Gold Medal in the 10th Lianhe Zaobao Wine Review Challenge 2008, as well as Best Wine Award in the New World Syrah category. The following wines also won awards in different categories: Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2006 in Oaked Chardonnay category; Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 in New World Cabernet Sauvignon category and Montes Limited Selection Pinot Noir 2007 in Pinot Noir category.
BEST CLIENTS OF MONTES AWARDS IN VIETNAM Our Vietnam importer, Vine Group, awarded the top Montes clients. It was a great night for our wines in Hanoi.
Darren Gall, International Wine Consultant / Nguen Hoang Huy, Chu Bar’s Owner / Carlos Serrano / John Gardener, GM Caravelle / Mrs Nga Stromler, Owner of Au Lac Do Brazil restaurant chain / Donald Berger
Carlos Serrano / Mrs Nguyen Thi Thuy, S & M Manager of Vine Group-HCM / Christoph Travniczek, Food and Beverage Director Park Hyatt / Donald Berger.
WEDDING IN VIETNAM At the wedding of Mr. Henry Hoang and Mrs. Nguyen Phuong (daughter of Vietnam Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung) the attendees were delighted with Montes wines. Montes Angels were there blessing the new couple! We wish them all the best and lots of children! According to our Vietnam importers Vine Quality Hospitality Group, they spent New Year´s Eve and New Year´s Day with the Prime Minister at his house in Saigon. He had previously only preferred drinking French first-growths such as Latour and Margaux. After several bottles of persuasion, his new favorite wine is Montes Alpha M, the same he drank at his daughter´s wedding.
Groom: Mr. Henry Hoang, Bride: Mrs. Nguyen Phuong and Prime Minister of Vietnam, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung.
MONTES IN MALAYSIA Douglas Murray visited Malaysia in past August, leading the tasting and dinner with the staff of Nam Lee Cheong, in Kuala Lumpur. In his house, Mr. Leong is planning to host a wine tasting party for the new “Tigers and Angels“ Club in the future, where Purple Angel will be the house label.
MONTES IN SHOOK! RESTAURANT, MALAYSIA Shook! is an exciting restaurant concept and the first of its kind in Malaysia. The menu flirts with seasonal trends and boasts an adventurous fusion of east and west with Japanese, Chinese Wok, Italian and Western Grill show kitchens. Dishes are fresh, robust, natural and innovative. Emphasis is placed on an interactive, see-through and sensory dining experience with extravagant display counters and the ability to watch the chefs in action in all four show kitchens. A magnificent walk-in cellar holds over 3,000 bottles of some of the world’s most outstanding wines, including the world's largest vertical collection of Chateau Mouton Rothschild Artist Label series, featuring every vintage from 1945 to 1997 in both standard and magnum bottles. Also available are our Montes wines. Shook! – it's Fabulous! Bellissimo! Ichi Ban! Cheng! Syok!
WE VISITED JAPAN
November 2008
January 2009
MONTES IN PERU
URUGUAY HOSTS GRAND WINE EVENT
We visited our Peruvian importers, Distribuidora Gallegos, in order to attend the launch of the Montes and Montes Alpha wines in the city of Lima. Montes representatives Sonia Montanares and Gustavo Hormann offered a presentation to journalists and wine connoisseurs in Peru.
Hilton Hotel Osaka: Mr. Christopher Tang Chi Jun, Food & Beverage Manager, Douglas and Mr. Shigeki Nakagawa, Genji Manager/Sommelier.
The renowned Wine Gala was held in late January at the Hotel Conrad in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Our Montes Alpha wines were presented at a stand that was especially designed by our Uruguayan importers, F. Castro Importaciones and Wine Select Importaciones. Key clients were invited to the VIP Room to taste ultra premium wines including Montes Alpha M, Montes Folly and Purple Angel. The hotel’s top executives took part in the event along with noteworthy Uruguayan businesspeople and media representatives. Our importers, Diego Canavero and Mariano Castro of F. Castro Importaciones, played a key role in the event.
Rihga Royal Hotel Osaka: Mr. Akihiko Toda, Sommelier, Douglas and Mr. Masaharu Oka, Beverage Manager.
LAUNCH IN MAURITIUS The launch of the Montes wines on the island Republic of Mauritius took place at the Hotel Beau Rivage, of the Naiade Resorts Group. Guests enjoyed a delicious and delicate journey through the culinary universe of Beau Rivage accompanied by the Montes wines. The event was emceed by Emmanuel Perignon, Beau Rivage Assistant Manager, and Pascal Simar, the “Maitre en Vin”, presided by Olivier Constantin, Sales Manager of our importer Ireland Blyth Ltd.
Sonia Montanares / Edgar Feredjian, Director, Hotel Conrad / Sebastien Arnaud / Jorge Serna
1. Wong Fair Sales Area 2. Angelita with Gustavo Hormann 3. Willo Wu, Sonia Montanares and Gustavo Hormann 4. Angelita with Willo Wu 5. Dinner at Restaurant La Carreta with the Almendáriz family, Gustavo Hormann, Willo Wu and Julio Magnani
Diego Canavero, Director, F. Castro Importaciones / Sebastien Arnaud, Food and Beverages Director, Hotel Conrad / Alvaro Elola, Assistant Director of Food and Beverages, Hotel Conrad / Sonia Montanares, Latin America-Caribbean Exports Manager, Montes / Jorge Serna, Vice President and General Manager, Hotel Conrad / Andres Toscanini, Director, Wine Select / Mariano Castro, Director, F. Castro Importaciones.
VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
FROM BELGIUM’S “PALAIS DE VIN” Four sales representatives from our Belgium importer, Palais de Vin, visited the Apalta site in March. The members of group were Luc Mullender, Mark De Loeker, Anne Marie Vanden Borre and Thibaut Semain.
VISIT BY BRAZILIAN SOMMELIERS Our Brazilian importer, Mistral, organized a visit by Brazilian sommeliers in April 2008. They came to the winery for lunch and to taste the Apalta wines. We then visited our Marchigüe vineyards, where our guests very enthusiastically took part in the Harvest. We are certain that the 2008 vintages will be superb thanks to their help. Muito obrigado!
October 2008
SPRING CONCERT AT OUR WINERY Our first Spring Concert was held in the barrel room at our Apalta winery. Following a reception at Café Alfredo, guests enjoyed a concert by the German quartet Consensus Quartett of Hannover, who delighted the audience with pieces such as “La Oración del Torero” by Spanish composer Joaquín Turina and Maurice Ravel’s “String Quartet.”
The music group Consensus Quartett of Hannover
SLOVAKIA’S PRO VINO We received an enthusiastic group of representatives from our importer in Slovakia, Pro Vino, on March 7. We would like to thank Marian Plancak for organizing the trip. The photograph is from the welcome dinner that was held at Cuero Vaca in Santiago.
Bernardita Iacobelli, Bernardita Aspillaga Evelyn Ramírez and
MAJESTIC IN CHILE A group from the U.K. chain Majestic visited us, enjoying our wines at our Apalta winery and touring the Apalta and Marchigüe vineyards. They couldn’t resist the temptation to try some Chilean seafood in Zapallar.
AUSTRALIANS FRIENDS IN MONTES
MONTES IN EPCOT The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, an event that showcases fine cuisine and wines from the top cities of the world. The festival main event is the Party of the Senses, showcasing culinary delights in varied tasting stations prepared by international chefs and complemented with wines and beers from all over the world, including our beloved Montes Alpha wines.
ENOTECA AND TSUBAME GRILL RESTAURANT GROUP VISIT, JAPAN
David Herrod (Dan Murphy’s, Australia), Douglas Murray and David Jesse Bunn, (Dan Murphy’s).
er Tsubame ra (General Manag Mr. Tomotada IshikuGroup), Mrs. Emi Ishikura Grill Restaurant ic Relations Tsubame Grill bl (Marketing & Pu d Mr. Yuichi Kosugi (Assistant an p) ou Gr t an ur Resta urant Group). Tsubame Grill Resta General Manager
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ENOTECA AND THE TERRACE HOTELS VISIT FROM OKINAWA
OUR IMPORTERS IN NEW CALEDONIA
Carine (in charge of administration) and Eric Liorzou at “La Maison Ballande”.
In addition to our importers from Japan, Enoteca, we were joined by visitors from The Terrace Hotels, the most outstanding five-star hotel chain in Okinawa. They also enjoyed an aerial visit to the Colchagua Valley, flown by our best pilot, Aurelio Montes himself!
MONTES IN VANUATU NEW IMPORTERS IN MALDIVES
Find us on the Web!! www.monteswines.com
Claire Dolacinski, Business Development Manager (Vanuatu Brewing Limited) and Sydney Grace, General Manager (La Grillade restaurant).
Carlos Serrano (Montes) and our new importers of SIMDI, Maldives.
MONTES S.A. Av. Del Valle 945, Of 2611, Ciudad Empresarial, Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile Tel: 56-2-2484805, Fax: 56-2-2484790 e-mail: montes@monteswines.com PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR MONTES NEWS It will be our pleasure to receive your news and also whatever is printed about our MONTES and MONTES ALPHA wines.