2004 Montes Alpha M- Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley (7/26/2012)
Color: Garnet with just a hint of bricking at the rim
Smell: Smoke, graphite, pyrazines, dark chocolate, manure, with an overtone of black & blue fruit.
Taste: cassis, blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, coffee, and a very refined and pronounced presence of oak that seems to offer a wonderful balance.
Overall: Medium-full body, medium+ fruit, medium acidity, and a long finish. I have to say that I could easily have mistaken this for a more modern Left Bank Bordeaux. The tannin is prominant, but in a good place to enjoy this wine now. I can see this doing well for several years to come as well. I’m really wishing I had bought all of the bottles of this back when I found it for $40 last month. Outstanding!!!
Union square wines was selling some 03 and 04 montes folly at $25 a few years back. Obv some sort of distributor / importer shake up. i usually don’t drink this style of wine, but after having a few bottles, i wish i bought more
My only experience with the high-end Montes wines were when I was working with their distributor in Atlanta in 2010/2011. I think it was the '05 Alpha M- thought it was outstanding. Love the Purple Angel wines as well. Also had a Folly Syrah with some age on it- maybe it was a 2001? Always enjoyed tasting them.
I think that they do qualify as “world class wines” yet there is this strong and interesting blend of modern and traditional styles that makes me say that I want to enjoy this more…but I still struggle. I guess it boils down to knowing that the SSRP for this is north of $75 and I have a hard time getting excited about that. I’d be much happier if this was in the $30-$40 range.
Kirk and Brian, what do you mean when you say you don’t usually drink this style of wine? Do you mean Chilean or South American wines, or do you think this is a big/modern style?
I recall thinking this wine was quite restrained. Not a Bordeaux ringer, but maybe in line with more traditional-styled California cabs, something like Mondavi Reserve and BV Georges de Latour from the 1990s.
I agree with Kirk that my enthusiasm dims with pricing into the $70+ range. I’d probably be an occasional buyer if it came in below $50.
I agree with this. I’ve had several vintages of the M with a decade-plus of age, and they were all balanced, complex and lovely. Nothing like the more modern Chilean “icon wines” like Clos Apalta, Almaviva, etc.
The only bottle I had was the 99 vintage with 10yrs of age and thought it was fantastic. Completely agree with the descriptors above and at $40 you got a steal.
I don’t drink many Chilean wines…I’ve had four Chilean wines since the summer of 2009; and this style (to me) seems to walk the line just between modern and traditional. It’s neither completely modern or traditional…but it does a great job of complementing a little of what both styles have to offer.