EVENTS AND NEWS
Viña Montes Explores New Territory
May 04, 2005
Exploring new terroirs in Chile and beyond, innovative Chilean winery Montes S.A. announces the release of several new projects: Purple Angel, Sauvignon Blanc Leyda Valley, and the new Kaiken Ultra line.
Montes Purple Angel is a Carmenère from the winery’s Marchigue and Apalta estates in Colchagua, Chile; Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc is made from grapes grown in Leyda, a sub-appellation of Chile’s cool, northern San Antonio; and the Kaiken Ultra line consists of a Malbec and a Cabernet Sauvignon from vineyards in Mendoza, Argentina.
Montes Purple Angel 2003
A spirit of adventure and the quest for quality led the Montes team to experiment with new terroirs and grape varieties. Carmenère is a long-lost grape, once found in Bordeaux but wiped out there by the infestation of a vine pest called phylloxera in the 19th century. However, cuttings taken to Chile by early winegrowers escaped the devastation and now the grape is often considered “Chilean.” Used throughout its history by most winemakers as a blending grape, Carmenère makes up a full 92% of Montes Purple Angel 2003, with Petit Verdot the remaining 8%. “Our winemaker, Aurelio Montes, waited and evaluated, while most other wineries jumped the gun in their rush to produce their version of Carmenère,” says Director Douglas Murray. “Aurelio kept saying he would release a full Carmenère only once he felt satisfied that he understood all aspects of it and had tested its cellaring capabilities, and when he was certain it would be a top contender.” It was worth the wait: Montes Purple Angel 2003 reveals dark blackberry fruit aromas with spicy, lively notes. This lovely wine is full bodied, with ripe tannins giving grip and structure. Suggested retail price is $48.
Another exciting development for the winery is the new Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2004, which is produced from grapes harvested in Chile’s Leyda Valley, a new appellation showing great promise for cool-climate grapes. “Leyda is one of the most beautiful corners of the so-called ‘cold area’ for wine production,” notes President and Winemaker Aurelio Montes. “It’s the only place in Chile where you can taste wines and watch the sunset in the Pacific Ocean.”
Due to the normal cool temperatures in the area, yields are naturally very low at 6 tons per hectare (2.4 tons per acre) or less, and the soils are sand and granite with some clay. “The area is particularly good, in my opinion, for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir,” notes Aurelio Montes. Refreshingly crisp, Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2004 displays complex tropical fruit characters with lively citrus notes. The wine’s high acidity and low Ph contribute to its overall freshness and minerality, leading into an impressively long finish. Suggested retail price is $16.
Montes’ search for great vineyards doesn’t stop at Chile’s borders. The winery is introducing two ultra-premium wines—a Malbec and a Cabernet Sauvignon—under the Kaiken Ultra label, made from grapes grown in the Mendoza region of Argentina. These wines are the natural extension of the Kaiken line, which was launched last year with Kaiken Reserve. As the winery’s understanding of Argentina’s unique terroirs developed, Aurelio Montes felt the time was right to produce a higher level of Kaiken. Noting the difference in climate—Chile is a Mediterranean coastal climate, while high-altitude Argentina is more continental with the ever-present threat of hail—Aurelio Montes finds differences in the expression of these grape varieties. “I would say the Chilean wines are fuller and bigger, with personality, while the Kaiken wines are slightly leaner and more sophisticated,” he says. Grapes for these wines are sourced from several vineyards in the Mendoza region, to mitigate the risk of losing the crop to hail, and the winery’s technical team controls the viticulture throughout the year. The wines are produced in a top Argentinean facility where Montes has a long-term contract.
Deep violet in color, the Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2003 shows delicious notes of cherry-chocolate and spices with a touch of violets and silky red fruits. The palate is soft and creamy, with rich, fine tannins. The Kaiken Ultra Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 displays currant and blueberry flavors, with notes of dried herbs, tobacco, and dark coffee. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe blackberry character and good tannin structure leading to a long finish. Suggested retail price for each is $23.00.
And what’s next for Montes? The winery was named “Most Innovative Company” in 2004 by PROCHILE, Chile’s official Export Bureau support office. “This shows that time and age have not dimmed our passion for pioneering,” says Murray with a twinkle in his eye. “And you never know where we’ll go next!”
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Contact
MontesAv. Del Valle 945, Of. 2611
Ciudad Empresarial, Huechuraba
Santiago 6583107
Chile
Tel: 56-2-248-4805 Visit their Website:
www.monteswines.com
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