Montes Alpha Colchagua Merlot 2022
£14.75
The wine
Deep ruby red, with pronounced fresh red berries and plums and subtle layers of vanilla, toffee and nut from oak ageing. Wonderfully structured on the palate.
Merlot from the El Arcangel de Marchigue vineyards in Colchagua. Cold soaked at 10 degrees for a full seven days, considerably longer than the two given to the Classic Series, which extracts far more colour and aromatic depth before fermentation begins. That difference in maceration is most of what separates the Alpha range from the entry wines.
The producer
Montes
View all Montes winesFounded in 1988, Montes helped redefine what Chilean wine could be, proving the country capable of world-class quality. From humble beginnings it has grown into one of Chile's most admired and internationally recognised producers, celebrated for ambition, consistency and a pioneering spirit.
Montes draws on carefully chosen sites across Chile's finest regions, from the warm slopes of Colchagua and Apalta to the cool, coastal Aconcagua Costa and Leyda. The estate farms sustainably and champions gravity-flow winemaking and hillside planting, always seeking greater elegance and freshness.
The portfolio climbs from the bright, everyday Classic Series and cool-climate Limited Selection through the polished Alpha range to a trio of icons: the acclaimed Carménère-led Purple Angel, the single-vineyard Folly Syrah and the flagship Bordeaux blend Alpha M, with the rare Taita at the summit.
Confident, generous and impeccably made, Montes wines combine ripe Chilean fruit with genuine finesse. Whether an easy midweek red or a cellar-worthy icon, each bottle reflects the vision and quality that made Montes a benchmark for the New World.
