Viña Montes 2014 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon - 91pts

Viña Montes 2014 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon (D.O. Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $20-25 +tax
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: December 31st, 2019

Tasting Notes: Actually a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, this dry-farmed, high-altitude beauty offers exceptional value, delivering classic, Cabernet-Merlot aromas and flavours of minty-cassis and smoky-anise. Dry, balanced and food-friendly with impressive depth for the under $25 price tag. Drink now-2022+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2020 IconWines.ca

Kaiken 2015 Reserva Malbec - 87pts

Kaiken 2015 Reserva Malbec (Lujan de Cuyo) Mendoza - Argentina

Availability: Special order, private wine stores
Cost: $14.99 + taxes
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: April 20th, 2017

Tasting Notes: Impressive balance and intensity for the price, the Kaiken Reserva Malbec is produced by the Montes family of Chile from Mendoza fruit and offers a blooming nose of dark berry fruit, charred oak and sweet pipe tobacco aromas followed by a mouth-watering, full-bodied and round palate with a combination of sweet berry and spicy flavours. Finished with a hint of mint. Enjoy in its youth with sweet'n'spicy, BBQ dished. Drink now-2019.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2013 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon - 90-92pts

Viña Montes 2013 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon (D.O. Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $22-25 +tax
Alcohol: 15.2%
Date Tasted: June 25th, 2016

Tasting Notes: Starting with the 2012 vintage, the Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% dry-farmed, meaning the vineyard's only water-source is that which nature provides during the growing season. This adds sustainability 'cred' to the winery's marketing copy but also noticeable quality improvements as well. Older vines with deep roots make the practice viable, forcing the vines to work harder to get the water it needs; vines in a constant state of struggle produce the best wine.

The result is crazy intensity and depth for the price with concentrated, black currant, eucalyptus-mint, toasted oak and warm spice aromas on the dense nose followed by a velvety palate with similar flavours and a long, refined, mouth-watering finish where lively dark fruit puree notes linger. Has the pedigree to age a decade. Drink 2016-2023+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2011 Montes Folly - 94+pts

Viña Montes 2011 Montes Folly (Alpalta Valley) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $87
Alcohol: 15.2%
Date Tasted: February 27th, 2015

Tasting Notes: Another killer Folly with an enchanting, sweetly scented nose of cherry, plum, blueberry, cola and pepper aromas complimented with elegant, toasted oak and warm earth characters. The palate is equally complex and smooth with solid structure from refined, developed tannins. Silky on the entry, creamy on the mid-palate and long'n'peppery on the finish. Fantastic. Drinking beautifully now with a cellar worthy track record that should keep this wine a fixture in your collection for 8-10 years. Drink 2015-2023+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2007 Montes Folly - 93pts

Viña Montes 2007 Montes Folly (Alpalta Valley) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $86.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: March 2nd, 2012

Tasting Notes: The expressive nose and silky palate present rich blackberry and blueberry fruit notes that are complimented with elegant toasted oak and warm earth characters. Extremely well balanced with solid structure from refined, developed tannins. Produced from 17-18 year old vines that are really producing some amazing fruit. Aged in French oak for 18 months with a further 12 months+ of bottle aging prior to release.

The acid is up and the richness on the palate is down when compared to the utterly stunning 2006 release, yet the wine remains the champion of all South American Syrah and the wine to gauge against. Drinking beautifully now with a cellar worthy track record that should keep this wine a fixture in your collection for another 8-10 years. Drink 2012-2020+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Montes 2009 Limited Selection Cabernet Carmenere - 87+pts

Montes 2009 Limited Selection Cabernet Carmenere (Apalta Vineyard) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores
Cost: $18-19.50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Date Tasted: August 28th, 2011

Tasting Notes: Despite a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carmenere, it is the once-thought-to-be-eradicated 6th Bordeaux varietal Carmenere whose candied fruit and spice characters dominate the intense nose. A heavily extracted, yet watery-textured presentation follows on the juicy palate with concentrated mixed-berry fruit flavours and mouth-watering acidity. Coarse, medium-plus tannins will keep this wine "cooking" in your cellar for some further development but it may not be worth the patience needed. Drink 2011-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2006 Purple Angel - 93+pts

Viña Montes 2006 Purple Angel (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $53.95
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 5500 cases
Date Tasted: April 30th, 2011

Tasting Notes: A concentrated, dense and brooding monster of a Carmenère (with 8% Petit Verdot) from Chile's Viña Montes. 18 months in new French oak imparts perfectly integrated tannins and lovely oak notes to the nose and palate. Prominent aroma of menthol on the intense nose with cassis, blackberry, spice box, orange blossom and stonefruit supporting. The dry palate offers impressive depth with good continuity of flavours from the nose with added tobacco, leather and tomato stock characters.

A fantastic Carmenère to which all others will likely be compared with a super smooth texture, complex character, a long finish, good aging potential and a near perfect balance. Drink 2011-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Viña Montes 2006 Montes Folly - 95pts

Viña Montes 2006 Montes Folly (Colchagua Valley) Chile

Availability: BCLDB Signature and private wine stores
Cost: $86.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Production: 4100 cases
Date Tasted: April 30th, 2011

Tasting Notes: For wine drinkers who believe the world's best Syrah can only be made in the Rhone and Barossa Valleys, I offer for your consideration the amazing, refined and effortlessly elegant Montes Folly: a true Chilean icon.

Aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels, this single vineyard Syrah offers an intriguing combination of both intense and delicate notes on the nose and palate. Dark cherry, oak, vanilla, licorice, white pepper and floral characters aplenty. The concentration is so high that just a drop on the tongue thrills the senses. This perfectly balanced, gorgeous wine with its long, long finish and lingering spice, would pair beautifully with savoury steaks yet can stand on its own confidently. Approachable now and will enjoy a long life. Drink 2011-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Montes 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere - 89pts

Montes 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon-Carmenere (Apalta Vineyard) Colchagua Valley - Chile

Availability: BCLDB stores

Cost: $19.90

Alcohol: 14.5%

Date Tasted: January 21st, 2010

Tasting Notes: Loads of fruit concentration in this dark-ruby wine from top Chilean producer Montes. A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Carmenere this read-to-drink pleaser has a medium intense nose of toasted oak, cassis and warm spice aromas with mineral notes.

The full-bodied palate offers flavours of concentrated cassis from the Cabernet with underlying spice from the Carmenere. Lovely texture from integrated tannins and good acidity makes this wine very easy to drink solo or match with BBQ'd red meats. Very balanced medium finish. Drink now through 2012. - LC