Winemaker Notes
Deep ruby-red in color with violet nuances. The nose is very expressive with aromas of ripe blackberries, figs, crème de cassis, and hints of leather and dark chocolate. The palate is well balanced with bright acidity, smooth tannins, ample structure, and generous volume. The finish is long and considerably complex.
Highly recommended with red meats, stir-fried beef, pork chops, spaghetti with Bolognese sauce, and lamb chops.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Spice, dried meat and dark berries on the nose and palate. Full bodied, yet so fresh and focused. The tannins carve a lovely frame. Spicy finish with underlying cloves and nutmeg. Drink or hold.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Montes Alpha Syrah is energetic and long on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine shows black fruit, licorice, and oak in its aromas and flavors. Enjoy it with slow-braised meat dishes. (Tasted: February 22, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
A full and gritty nose showcases aromas of eucalyptus, green herbs and black fruits. A full but agile palate features bright acidity and grabby tannins, while toasty oak tops herbal blackberry and plum flavors. A concentrated finish is dry and weighty but not heavy.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Well-regarded for intense and exceptionally high quality red wines, the Colchagua Valley is situated in the southern part of Chile’s Rapel Valley, with many of the best vineyards lying in the foothills of the Coastal Range.
Heavy French investment and cutting-edge technology in both the vineyard and the winery has been a boon to the local viticultural industry, which already laid claim to ancient vines and a textbook Mediterranean climate.
The warm, dry growing season in the Colchagua Valley favors robust reds made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Malbec and Syrah—in fact, some of Chile’s very best are made here. A small amount of good white wine is produced from Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.