Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon was first made in the late 1980s by Aurelio Montes and his partners as a wine to show the potential of Chilean reds, and it remains a benchmark single-varietal Cabernet. The fruit comes from the Colchagua Valley in central Chile, a warm, sunny region where the Mediterranean climate ripens Cabernet Sauvignon fully and reliably, here reaching 14.5%, while cooling influences help retain freshness. The wine ages twelve months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens the tannins, adds spice and vanilla and frames the ripe fruit. The result is deep and structured in the style of a New World Cabernet, with concentration balanced by firm tannin. The colour is dark and the nose shows black fruits such as blackberry and plum with cherry, dark chocolate, black pepper and a measured oak character. The palate is full bodied, with firm, ripe tannin and a long, spicy finish. Serve at 17C in a Bordeaux glass, decanting an hour ahead if drinking young. It is built for grilled and roast red meats.