Montes Alpha Special Cuvee Carmenere 2022

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Montes
Label Name:
 
Alpha Special Cuvee Carmenere
Vintage:
 
2022
Country:
 
Chile
Region:
 
Colchagua Valley (Apalta / Marchigüe)
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14.5%
Grape(s):
 
90% Carmenère, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
3
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
17-19°C

Awards/Ratings
Wine Spectator 90 pts (2022 vintage listed); Ken's Wine Guide 90 pts; multiple importers/retailers list favorable scores and reviews

Tasting Note
Deep ruby with ripe blackberries, plums and fig, backed by black pepper, tobacco, dark chocolate and vanilla. Plush, silky palate with soft tannins and a long, elegant finish.

Food Pairing
Grilled beef, lamb chops, roasted game, BBQ ribs; Western stews and hard cheeses. Asian: Korean BBQ, char siu, teriyaki duck, spicy Szechuan beef, yakitori.

Production Method
Hand-harvested, cold-soaked 5–7 days, fermented ~10 days, malolactic in tanks; aged ~12 months in French oak (mix of new and used barrels), then blended and bottled.

Vineyard Info
Viña Montes, founded 1987 by Aurelio Montes, pioneers premium Chilean wines and helped revive Carmenère; sources grapes from Apalta and Marchigüe estates in Colchagua.