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Montes Alpha Syrah(2005)
- Winery:
- Montes Alpha
- Varietal:
- Syrah
- Region:
- Chile
- Type:
- Red Wine
- User Tags:
- red grape, berry, syrah, oak - heavy, fruit, cabernet sauvignon, stone fruits, white grape, (tree) fruit, cherry
- 2006
Other Vintages
- Guide to Montes Alpha
- Learn about Syrah wines
- Guide to Chile's wines
Related Groups
The up front nose is fruity, black cherries, hints of strawberries, and all well combined with a smoky spiciness, that adds elegance and complexity. The 7% of Cabernet Sauvignon is adding structure and hints of cassis and berries while the 3% of Viognier adds a nice and delicate floral touch. The oak is well assembled and combined with this strong, soft ,velvety wine.
- January 2008
- Lots of berry fruit, a bit of oak, and very nice controlled tannins. Nice nose and finish. Really enjoyed this one. Very good value.
- January 2008
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Stepping out of the world of Bordeauxs and tasted this at a party. Lovely fruity nose. This had a lot going on. The beginnings was like cherry candy to me, and it evolves to an array of different tastes - blackberries, cherries, very subtle pepper and spice. If you do not like a spicy shiraz, this one would work well. I'd say its a very versatile wine that allows a more flexible pairing with food... from red meat to a casual barbeque or asian dinner. Great value.
WS 92
$17 at Costco
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- Rob McKaughan
- Seattle, WA
- January 2008
- Outstanding wine for it's price - comparable to some $30-$50 wines I've tasted. Rich flavor; just the right amount of leather, smoke & spice. A great drinking wine and works well with with food (we had it with halibut in a tomato based sauce). I'm running back to pick up a half case.
- November 2008
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Notes: Aged in French Oak barrels for one year, this Syrah, with a bit of Cabernet and Viognier mixed in, has an alcohol content of 14.5%.
This wine was medium-bodied and has a nice spicy berry flavor. I could definitely taste a hint of the oak (or perhaps cedar wood is a better term). Very indicative of a Chilean Syrah.
The wine opened up as it was aerated and set out a bit. This makes me think decanting would enhance the flavors. I may try letting it sit out a bit when I get another bottle. I found this wine for $17 and I would happily pay that price again for this caliber of a wine.
- July 2008
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It is so nice to have "Wine Friends" that are as excited about wine as I am. Every week I am amazed at the number of people that visit my site and take the time to comment or make suggestions of wines to try. What started as a hobby, has become something more. Where this journey will end I do not know. I have to say, I am having a heck of a lot of fun on the trip.
This week my friend and fellow wine buff Barbara Johnson dropped off a bottle of Montes Alpha Syrah and asked for my opinion. She and I have similar palates, so I was excited to give it a try. I am a fan of Chilean wines from way back. Initially it was read more...because of their affordability more then their quality. Lately, it is more about quality. Their reasonable price is just icing on the cake.
Montes Alpha is producing their wines with a trick learned from the Australians. They add a bit of Cabernet and Viognier to the Syrah, and the wine becomes better then the sum of its parts. This wine certainly does. With the addition of 7% Cabernet and 3% Viognier the wine is given some added structure and great aromatics. This wine is a smooth gem.
It pours a dark ruby color and emits floral, tobacco and earthy aromas. There is also a hint of red fruit on the nose, but it is tough to isolate. The red fruit comes through when tasting. This full bodied syrah blend has berries and cassis galore, with leather and earth layers. This wine was aged for 12 months in French oak, and you can taste a bit of the oak on the finish.
The wine has a nice mouth feel. Rich and hearty, you can feel the structure that the Cabernet has delivered in the blend. A slight floral note on the long finish gives a hint to the small amount of Viognier added before bottling. The tannins do not overwhelm. This is an easy bottle to drink as the tannins are mature and a bit velvety. It has nice balance from start to finish.
Overall, this is a lovely bottle of wine. A different style and richness then the Australian Shiraz, this is a great wine for a hearty steak or stew. You won't be disappointed. Look for the 2005 vintage, it should be available now. Although this will lay down in a cellar for some time, it is a winner right now. I would not expect this to improve a great deal in the bottle.
The Montes Alpha wines and many of their Chilean competitors have been improving in quality dramatically. A few have been included in top 100 wine honors, and are certainly worth a try. Don't hesitate to give these wines a look. Don't limit yourself to just the Syrah. They have Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay as well. (hide)
Tags: winegent.com, winegent, wine gent, gerry dunn
