Montes Alpha Carmenere

Tasting note Montes Alpha Carmenère

Sultry and complex aroma, white pepper, red berries, chocolate, vanilla and plums. Mouth-filling and rich in taste, with the soft tannin structure and the long finish being particularly notable. A deep and vibrant ruby red color.

Food & Wine

Montes Alpha Carmenère pairs well, as befits a South American wine, with ‘churrasco’, or grilled red meat. Also perfect with pork chops, spaghetti Bolognese, lamb chops and stews.

Other information

Montes Alpha Carmenère comes from the Colchagua Valley, with grapes from areas including Apalta and Marchigüe. Carmenère has since become one of Chile's signature grapes, although the grape originally comes from Bordeaux.

The grapes are harvested by hand and strictly selected. After a cold maceration, fermentation follows at a controlled temperature. The wine then undergoes malolactic fermentation.

The wine is then aged for approximately 12 months in French oak barrels, some of which are new. A small portion of the wine is aged in cement before the final blend is assembled. The oak aging gives the wine extra structure and notes of vanilla, toast and sweet spices, while the fruity and spicy character of the Carmenère is preserved.

Wine scores/awards

• 91 points – Wine Advocate, 2022 vintage
• 90 points – Wine Spectator, 2022 vintage
• 90 points – Wine Enthusiast, 2022 vintage

In addition, the 2021 vintage achieved:

• 93 points – Alistair Cooper MW
• 92 points – Tim Atkin
• 92 points – James Suckling

Fun fact

For many years, Carmenère was mistaken for Merlot in Chile. It was not until 1994 that the French ampelographer Jean-Michel Boursiquot discovered that many Chilean Merlot vines were actually Carmenère. The grape subsequently became a kind of calling card for Chilean viticulture.