Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Montes
Label Name:
 
Alpha M
Vintage:
 
2018
Country:
 
Chile
Region:
 
Colchagua Valley (Apalta)
Volume:
 
3000ml
ABV:
 
14.8%
Grape(s):
 
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
5
Length:
 
5
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
James Suckling 96, Decanter 96, Descorchados 96, Wine Spectator 95, Falstaff 94, Vinous 93, Wine Enthusiast 93

Tasting Note
Concentrated black and red fruits—blackberry, cassis and cherry—layered with graphite, cedar, dark chocolate, tobacco and spice. Silky yet structured tannins, vibrant acidity and a long mineral-spicy finish.

Food Pairing
Western: grilled ribeye, roast lamb, aged hard cheeses, beef short ribs. Asian: Peking duck, Korean BBQ (bulgogi/galbi), char siu, spicy Sichuan beef, teriyaki beef.

Production Method
Hand-harvested Apalta fruit; stainless-steel fermentation with extended maceration and ~18 months in French oak (approximately 70–80% new). Limited-production selection.

Vineyard Info
Viña Montes, founded by Aurelio Montes in 1988, produces Alpha M as an ultra-premium, limited-release Apalta blend made only in exceptional vintages.