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2005 Montes Malbec Reserve Oak Aged |
| Vintage | 2005 |  Label 1 of 5   | |
| Type | Red | ||
| Producer | Montes (web) | ||
| Variety | Malbec | ||
| Designation | Reserve Oak Aged | ||
| Vineyard | n/a | ||
| Country | Chile | ||
| Region | Central Valley | ||
| SubRegion | Rapel Valley | ||
| Appellation | Colchagua Valley | ||
| UPC Code | 715126400022 |
| Community Tasting History |
Community Tasting Notes (average 87.8 pts. and median of 88 pts. in 13 notes) | |
| Tasted by Anonymous on 9/3/2007 & rated 89 points: (1424 views) | |
| Tasted by Guitar George on 6/25/2007 & rated 87 points: Excellent value. Nice Malbec with a pleasant, if thin, nose and nice full mouth. (1792 views) | |
| Tasted by yipen on 5/6/2007 & rated 87 points: Good wine for the money, not much tannin but fruit forward type of malbec (1878 views) | |
| Tasted by JBarry on 4/5/2007 & rated 88 points: Good Body - Nice finish - At $6.79 an excellent Buy - My Rating 88 Points (1991 views) | |
| Tasted by zulaRM on 2/2/2007: Nose was a touch corky; that seemd to fade; simple but enjoyable; fruity with a bit of structure. (2201 views) | |
| Tasted by dhw on 1/21/2007 & rated 88 points: another fine bottle. (2124 views) | |
| Tasted by thevandelindes on 12/15/2006 & rated 90 points: Can't beat if for the price. Malbec is becoming one of my favorite food wines. (2502 views) | |
| Tasted by Tourette Spice on 11/5/2006 & rated 88 points: (2066 views) | |
| Tasted by dhw on 10/27/2006 & rated 89 points: This place puts out a lot of great wine. New to malbec, very enjoyable. (2319 views) | |
| Tasted by epml on 9/28/2006 & rated 88 points: Very enjoyable. Great Value. (2602 views) | |
| Tasted by bahiadave on 9/23/2006: blah (2737 views) | |
| Tasted by Tourette Spice on 9/19/2006 & rated 87 points: Deep, rich & smokey. Loved every sip. (2696 views) | |
| Tasted by organchris on 8/26/2006 & rated 85 points: (2252 views) |
| CellarTracker Wiki Articles (login to edit | view all articles) |
| Producer website The first activities at our vineyard began in 1987. Two partners with great illusions, Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, both holding long-standing experience in the wine industry, were certain Chile could improve on the quality it was producing at the time. It seemed as if the large and medium-scale vineyards were satisfied with limiting their distribution to local supermarkets. They certainly knew how to produce premium wines, but didn’t feel up to it, they were satisfied with the niche markets they had attained, which was certainly broad, although small. In 1988, another two original partners joined in, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, each providing their qualified, complimentary views, and thus, Viña Montes was formally born, initially under the name Discover Wine Ltda., a saga that has made Chile internationally known in 75 countries worldwide while providing extensive recognition and acclaim. About red wine Varietal character (Appellation America) One of the traditional “Bordeaux varietals”, Malbec has characteristics that fall somewhere between Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. A midseason ripener, it can bring very deep color, ample tannin, and a particular plum-like flavor component to add complexity to claret blends. Malbec is a finicky vine whose fruit is prone to rot and mildew in the cool, damp coastal climate of Bordeaux. But ask a Bordelais grower why there’s no Malbec around, and you’ll more likely get a dismissive shrug and sniff than a viticultural analysis. It is known in much of France as Côt, and, in Cahors, also as Auxerrois. There are in fact hundreds of local synonyms, since Malbec at one time was widely planted all over the country. Sensitivity to frost and proclivity to shatter or coulure (a disease that results in premature fruit drop) is the primary reason that Malbec has become a decreasing factor in most of France. Although plantings in the Medoc have decreased by over twothirds since the mid-twentieth century, Malbec is now the dominant red varietal in the Cahors area. The Appellation Controlée regulations for Cahors require a minimum content of 70%. Malbec is also planted in Chile, and there’s relatively little and recent acreage in California and Australia. It is usually blended with other red varietals in these countries. But Malbec truly comes into its own in Argentina, where it is the major red varietal planted. Much of the Malbec vines there were transplanted from Europe prior to the outbreak of phylloxera and most is therefore ungrafted, on its own roots. Sadly, over the years the bug infested Argentina, too, and vineyards are being replanted on resistant rootstock. Happily, the vines thrive in the arid climate of the Mendoza region in the foothills of the Andes. Made in the context of this South American nation’s Spanish and Italian heritage, it produces a delicious wine that has almost nothing in common with Bordeaux except the color. Argentines often spell it “Malbeck” and make wines from it that are slightly similar in flavor to those made in Europe, but with softer, lusher structure, more like New World Merlot. Another difference is that where French examples are usually considered short-lived, Argentine Malbecs seem to age fairly well. Successful Argentine Malbec growers claim that, in order to develop full maturity and distinction, Malbec needs “hang time” even after sugar levels indicate ripeness. Otherwise, immature Malbec can be very “green” tasting, without its characteristic notes of plum and anise. Malbec in Argentina has come to be appreciated for a spicy white pepper characteristic, the aroma of violets, and sweet, jammy fruit. It is a seductive wine that is typically warm and generous in the mouth, with plenty of flesh, and very appealing when young. Almost always producing a ripe and fruity, even plummy wine, Malbec can take oak aging or show well without it; it’s juicy and quaffable when young but can benefit from aging, developing an intriguing complexity with time in the bottle. It can range in price from as little as $7 to more than $75. The true potential of Argentine Malbec, and indeed in the entire spectrum of Argentine wines, is demonstrated by the fact that many of the world’s most renowned winemakers have come to Argentina to make wine. Both the legendary California winemaker Paul Hobbs, and Michel Rolland of Bordeaux, one of the world’s most famous winemakers, have created very high-end Malbecs. It may be the Italian component in the country’s mixed Latin family tree that fosters the fact that Malbec is an exceptional companion with a broad range of food. Its well-balanced fruit-and-acid profile makes it a natural with rare beef (bear in mind that Argentina is cattle country), but it’s just as good with simple fare from burgers to fried chicken. Because if its balance and fruit, good pairings include cajun cuisine, calzones, cannelloni with meat, poultry, vegetable couscous, steak creole, Greek cuisine, deviled eggs, hummus, Indian cuisine, leg of lamb, Mexican cuisine with meat and chicken, pâté, spinach soufflé, and pasta. For cheeses, think of harder styles that are either waxed or oiled, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Ricotta Salata, Romano, Asiago, Pont l’Eveque, Gruyere, Manchego, Cantal, Comte, old Gouda, old Cheddar, Baulderstone, Beaufort, Leicester, aged Chesire, Chevre Noir, Wensleydale, Tilsit, Iberico, Mahon, Roncal, and Mizithra. Wines of Chile (Vinos de Chile) | Chilean Wines (Wikipedia) Central Valley, Chile |
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