×
This wine is currently unavailable, the vintage 2020 is available

Montes Carmenere Alpha 2011 750ml

size
750ml
country
Chile
region
Valle Central
appellation
Colchagua
subappellation
Rapel
JS
90
Additional vintages
JS
90
Rated 90 by James Suckling
A red with walnut shell and berry character. Hints of cloves and other spices too. Full-bodied, fruity and delicious plus a fresh finish. A pure carmenere that shows focus. Drink now. (Suckling)
Image of bottle
Sample image only. Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description

Montes Carmenere Alpha 2011 750ml

SKU 748572
Out of Stock
More wines available from Montes
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $19.80 $22.00
Rated 92 - Dusty spices to the blackcurrants and plums with a touch of tobacco and a hint of chili chocolate. Medium-...
JS
92
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $16.12 $17.91
Ruby-red in colour, with violet at the rim. The nose is generous; red and black fruit aromas are perfectly balanced...
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $118.95
Rated 98 - Very intense aromas of blackcurrants, violets, flower stems, bark and wet earth. Very perfumed. Mushrooms,...
JS
98
DC
97
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $19.93 $22.00
As always, this Carmenère is intense red color with a violet hue. It offers numerous aromas of tremendous intensity....
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $14.94 $16.25
Rated 90 - Lemon pastry, lees, bread crust, butter and ripe melon. A full-bodied, buttery chardonnay with creamy,...
JS
90
More Details
Winery Montes
barrel

Vintage: 2011

The year 2011 was an interesting year for many northern and central European countries, as the weather was more than unpredictable in the spring and summer. However, in most countries, the climatic conditions thankfully settled down in the late summer and fall. The result of this slightly difficult year of weather in France was a set of surprisingly small yields, but overall, these yields were of a higher quality than those harvested in certain previous years. A fantastic set of wines was also made in Italy and Spain, and the Rioja wines - when released - are set to be very good indeed. Austria also had superb year in 2011, with almost fifty percent more grapes being grown and used for their distinctive Gruner Veltliner wines than in the year before. Possibly the European country which had the finest 2011, though, was Portugal, with wineries in the Douro region claiming this year to be one of the best in decades for the production of Port wine, and the bright, young Vinho Verdes wines. In the New World, the Pacific Northwest saw some of the best weather of 2011, and Washington State and Oregon reportedly had a highly successful year, especially for the cultivation of high quality red wine grapes. Chile and Argentina had a relatively cool year, which certainly helped retain the character of many of their key grape varietals, and should make for some exciting drinking. South Africa had especially good weather for their white wine grape varietals, particularly Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, and many South African wineries are reporting 2011 as one of their best years in recent memory.
green grapes

Varietal: Carmenere

The Carmenere grapes have a long and illustrious history in their native France, and are still used today by a select few wineries for the production of the exceptionally fine blended Bordeaux wines, widely considered to be the best in the world. However, it has been in the New World where Carmenere has seen the largest developments, with plenty of countries cultivating these grapes to make the most of their fine and unique characteristics. Carmenere grapes carry a beautiful dark red color, and pack a real punch with their intense flavors of chocolate, sour cherries, pepper and leather. They are particularly aromatic, and the single variety wines made from Carmenere are widely regarded to be amongst the most interesting to come out of countries in South America, particularly, over the past few decades.
barrel

Region: Valle Central

The Valle Central in Chile has long since been one of South America's most productive and prodigious wine regions, with millions of bottles leaving the wineries of the region each year. The climate of Valle Central is hugely varied, thanks to the many micro-climates caused by the geological features of the region. As such, a relatively wide range of grape varietals thrive there, depending on the location. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot do very well in the warmer, more humid areas, whilst white grapes such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Carmenere can be found at higher altitudes. The region itself has been producing wines for an astonishingly long time; since the 16th century, vines have been cultivated in the Maipo Valley and close to the capital, Santiago, and the wine industry of Valle Central is now stronger than ever.
fields

Country: Chile

When considering the rich and fertile central valleys of Chile, where we find most of the oldest, grandest and established wineries, it is difficult to imagine a more suited landscape for vineyard cultivation and wine production. Mineral rich soils, eight months of sunshine per year, oceanic winds and clear water running down the mountainsides – it is little wonder that the imported Old World grapes do so well here. Chile is renowned world-wide for producing highly drinkable wines, packed full of fruit-forward character and enjoyed young and fresh, as well as being home to more complex wines reminiscent of many Old World varieties. Whilst the Cabernet Sauvignon is widely regarded as being Chile's 'flagship' grape varietal, equally fine produce comes from Chardonnay grapes (indeed, the Sol de Sol Chardonnays are widely agreed to be amongst the New World's finest white wines) the plummy Merlot and silky, intense Pinot Noir.