Montes Alpha Special Cuvee Marchigüe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Montes is one of Chile's best known producers, and this Alpha Special Cuvee comes from the Marchigue vineyard in the warm, coastal influenced Colchagua Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon leads, with Syrah and Carmenere filling out the mid palate. Colchagua's warm days and cooler nights, helped by air drawn off the Pacific, let the grapes ripen fully while holding acidity, which gives both depth of fruit and freshness. The wine spends sixteen months in French oak barrels; this slow exchange of oxygen through the wood softens the tannin and adds cedar, vanilla and a fine toast. Carmenere brings a savoury, herbal note, while Syrah adds dark fruit and pepper. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows ripe blackcurrant, plum and black cherry, with tobacco, cedar and a touch of cocoa from the barrel. The palate is full bodied and structured, the tannin firm but rounded, carrying through to a long, spiced finish. At 14.5% it is generous but balanced. Decant for an hour and serve at 17 to 18C. It is built for red meat, from grilled steak to roast lamb.