Wine
Advocate #213June
2014 IssueReviewer/taster:
Luis Gutierrez
94
points
2011
Montes Alpha M
The 2011
Montes Alpha M is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with some Cabernet Franc,
Merlot and Petit Verdot. 2011 was a bit cooler than 2010, and the wine might
have more edges, and a little higher acidity. I find better balance in this
2011 compared with the 2010, with nerve and acidity, volume and great balance.
The nose is still closed, less expressive and benefits from air, but there is a
greater sense of harmony and integration, and I think in the long run it will
be a better wine. This is a classic. Drink 2015-2027.
93
points
Montes
Taita 2007
The 2007
Taita 2007 is the new super-mega wine from Montes. I tasted it once with
Aurelio and was impressed by its sheer power. It’s a dark and brooding,
concentrated example of a Cabernet-based wine from a special soil on an old
glacier which was first produced in 2007. The wine is dense and powerful, with
aromas and flavors of aromatic herbs, lactic touches and aromas of
blackberries, dark spices and good underlying acidity. It’s full-bodied and
intense, and should live a long life in bottle. If you’re into big,
concentrated, powerful wines, this one is for you. I wouldn’t touch it for at
least a couple of years. Drink 2016-2022.
93
points
2011
Montes Folly
The 2011
Folly Syrah is pure Syrah from the upper slopes of the Montes vineyard in the
Apalta Valley. It has a serious, somehow closed, backward nose, and it takes
time to show the aromas of ripe plums, olives and raspberries as they are also
covered by the notes of the wood, but the palate seems to have the stuffing to
balance the wood tannins and improve in bottle. It’s quite full-bodied, with
good freshness and focused varietal flavors. Give it some more time; this is a
very good Syrah that requires some patience. Drink 2015-2020.
92
points
2010
Montes Alpha M
The 2010
Montes Alpha M is a typical Medoc blend of a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon
with 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% of both Merlot and Petit Verdot from their
vineyards in Apalta next to the winery in the Colchagua Valley. It is aged in
the best French oak barrels in a magnificent cellar with Gregorian chants
continuously playing through the PA system. It’s a serious, meaty Bordeaux
blend with a Mediterranean accent, aromas of red and black fruit, earth and
some floral undertones, a medium-bodied palate with slightly dusty tannins,
good freshness and balance, and it should get polished with some more time in
bottle. I tasted 1999 and 2004 and they are still young and vibrant, but
obviously there are (huge) differences in oenology and viticulture, especially
since 2009. Drink 2015-2025.
91
points
2011
Montes Purple Angel
The 2011
Purple Angel is Carmenere with some 8% Petit Verdot to try to balance the low
acidity of the Carmenere: the Petit Verdot acting like the bones and the
Carmenere would be the meat. It has abundant black fruit aromas. There is a mix
from two different plots of Carmenere from Apalta (riper, more black fruit) and
Marchigue (cooler, adding more peppery flavors and aromas) within Colchagua. It
aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. This 2011 is still very young with
roasted coffee aromas from the barrels, notes of mint, chocolate and
fine-grained tannins, moderate acidity and a powerful profile. For a cool
vintage like 2011, there is a remarkable absence of green aromas and flavors,
achieved by low yields and managing irrigation. This is still very young and
shows a primary, fruit-driven personality. It should age well and develop more
complexity, as I saw in the 2003 and 2007 vintages. Drink 2015-2020.
91
points
2013
Montes Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc
The 2013
Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from Aconcagua Valley from the coastal
and northern zone of Zapallar, seven kilometers from the sea, which provides
freshness. It’s a powerful wine, with pungent aromas extracted from the skin
for some seven months contact, with a mineral feeling, akin to a Sancerre,
serious and austere, with gooseberries, tomato leaves, ending again mineral and
saline. This is a superb Sauvignon Blanc. The vines were planted in 2006 and
the first harvest bottled was 2011. Experiment with iodine-rich seafood, like
sea urchin. Uhhhmmm! Drink now-2017.
