The Rundown

  • Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Smells perfume-y, chocolate cherries
  • Black cherry reduction with espresso finish
  • Age worthy wine
  • >20 USD

The 2007 Montes Classic Series Merlot was the first wine I ever reviewed for this site. I marginally enjoyed the entry level effort from Montes, so I was quite interested in seeing what 8 bones and 12 months in french oak could do to a wine.

I was in for a surprise.

2006 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua

The first thing I wrote down when I smelled this wine was “sultry fruit seduction.” This wine smells like sex appeal; rose petals, perfume, and chocolate cherries.

It doesn’t quite have the mouthfeel or the richness that some of the higher end Chilean Cabs bring. But the depth of flavors and balance of this wine make it a veritable hydrogen bomb of sexy, supple fruit.

Very smooth texture, tasted to me like a black cherry reduction. Cap it off with a long espresso finish, I was absolutely blown away by this wine.

If you’re looking for a truly great wine for a dinner party, special guests, or to just treat yourself it’s hard to go wrong with the Montes Alpha, imho.

This is truly a serious wine and I think you could even lay down a few, or invest in a case, and watch how this wine changes over time.

Right now, this is defly mine, but what’s your favorite cab under 20 bones?