Montes Alpha Carmenère 2022

Montes Alpha Carmenère is a benchmark Chilean red from Montes Wines, a pioneer of fine winemaking in Chile and one of the first to plant in the Apalta district of the Colchagua Valley. Carmenère, the Bordeaux variety that found its home in Chile, ripens well here in central Chile's warm, dry Mediterranean climate, where cooling influence off the Andes and the coast and a wide diurnal range help the late-ripening grape reach full ripeness while retaining freshness and softening its naturally green, peppery edge. The vineyards are farmed sustainably. The wine is aged 12 months in oak barrels, which firms the structure, rounds the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds cocoa, vanilla and sweet spice from the wood. It is deep, near-opaque ruby, with a nose of ripe plum and red fruit over roasted red pepper, black pepper and sweet tobacco, the savoury pepper note a signature of the variety. The palate is full and ripe at 14% alcohol, with rounded tannins, good structure and a long, spicy finish. Serve at 16 to 18C, decanting ahead, with grilled and roasted red meat.