Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon | Embracing Sustainability

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon | Embracing Sustainability

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon

In the late 1980’s, Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon became the first ‘premium’ wine to be exported from Chile. It was a runaway success for Montes, and despite being one of the more expensive Chilean wines in the marketplace it now sees distribution in over 100 countries.

A vanguard in the nascent stages of the Chilean wine industry, Montes was determined to lead the way for the world to one day associate Chilean wines with quality. Fast Forward twenty years, and they are attempting to raise the bar for Chilean wines again – this time by focusing their efforts to incorporate sustainability measures into their winemaking practices.

In addition to advancing initiatives such as waste management and forest conservation efforts, the Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is now produced entirely from dry farmed vineyards in the Colchagua Valley, utilizing irrigation only when absolutely necessary.

Dry farmed vineyards typically produce higher quality fruit, with a higher ratio of skins to juice yielding more concentrated flavors (excessive irrigation results in more plump berries). But adopting dry farming does more than just improved quality, it also translates to a roughly 65% reduction in water usage. Better wine that’s better for the environment? I’ll raise a glass to that!

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon

Appearance: Pours quite dark, turning a deep shade of ruby at the rim.

Nose: Aromas of black cherry, plum and blackberry are interlaced with coffee, toasty oak and green olive.

On the palate: Medium to full-bodied, the Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is surprisingly bold and structured for such a reasonably priced wine. It boasts a creamy, dense core of blackberry, currant, plum and black raspberry flavors underscored by green olive, coffee, loamy earth and spice nuances that linger on the long, somewhat toasty and grippy finish. A really solid, stylish effort.

Varietal Composition: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot

Vintage: 2012

Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile

Value Rating:  5 / 5     

Where to get it: Wine-searcher

How I Got it: Media Sample

Price: ~$16-$18

Score: 92

Should you buy? The Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning value in Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’ve been searching for bold, stylish Cabernet Sauvignon on a budget then you’d be remiss not to discover this Chilean gem by Montes Wines. For other solid Cabernet’s under $20, click here!Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon

Value Proposition | Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon – Montes Wines

While I cant speak to the increase in quality per se (having not had the Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon before), I can speak to the surprising level of quality that the 2012 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon delivers. Rich, expressive and refined, this is one of the best Cabernet Sauvignon’s you’ll find for under $20.

One of the many criticisms of high-volume wine producers is that they focus considerably more on the bottom-line than they do on the sustainability and reducing their environmental impact.

In a time when preserving our natural resources and caring for the environment has become a global concern for many, it is so refreshing to see a larger scale producer taking much needed steps in the right direction. Montes has upped their game on social responsibility, and it tastes really good.


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