It’s no secret I’m a big fan of the wines from Montes & Chile in general.
I recently had the pleasure & honour to attend a dinner in Toronto hosted by the Profile Wine Group. The guests that made the evening special were Aurelio Montes Jr. & Sr.
They both were engaging, told great stories, & fielded questions throughout the night. Aurelio Jr. spoke about their efforts in Dry Farming (a topic for another day).
Many Montes wines and a few Kaiken wines (they have a partnership on some projects) were paired during the event.
Anyway, this wine was not poured that night, but when I found it at the LCBO, I knew I had to try it. I wasn’t disappointed.
Eyes: you’ll notice deep purplish hues.
Nose: you may find hints of ripe cherries & blackberries, all-spice, pepper, & woody undertones.
Mouth: you may find it medium, but leaning towards full-bodied. It’s a well-balanced wine with slightly chewy but not overbearing tannins.
Note that this wine is not 100% Syrah, it’s a blend of 90% Syrah, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 3% Viognier.
According to the winery, it can be enjoyed now (decant for up to 1 hour) or cellared for up to 10 years.
Overall, I recommend this smooth wine. Plus, it falls under my Maginot Line of $20 for an everyday wine at $19.95.
Rating: 3.75 stars
Alcohol/Vol: 14.5%
Made in: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Sugar Content: 4 g/L
Sweetness Descriptor: D – Dry
Style: Medium-bodied & Fruity
Varietal: Syrah/Shiraz
Vintages #: 612
Grape Stains by Jimmy 