2010 Montes Alpha Merlot

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 87.3 points

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  10/4/2015 - Enjoying Wine wrote: 88 Points

  Consumed immediately after opening. The good is that there wasn't an overbearing alcohol scent despite being 14.5%, although unmistakably present. As for the nose, it was mainly very earthy notes. More closer to mud with hints of tobacco. No fruit aromas right out of bottle. From what I read from other reviews, I am guessing that more time was needed for it to decant and display its full scent profile. After a couple of minutes, it does improve where a slight undertone of pencil lead appears. Although that scent is very fleeting. In the mouth, there is a bit of tannins but would say very on the light side. Enough to encourage it to be drunken with food. Steak with nutmeg marinade would be a good pairing. Recorked it to be drunk tomorrow. Hopefully it evolves.
  
  Update: A lot better the next day. More fruit on the nose. Scent starts off with very ripe raspberry with hints of strawberry. Both scents are fleeting and replaced with blackberry and vanila tones. Alcohol is still very present to a degree obstructing the full enjoyment of the fruit scents. In the mouth, very smooth with traces of tannin. Very enjoyable to drink with slight profile of refined lead scent and taste emerging later.
  
  Definitely a buy. Worth its money. Only drawback is the signature taste of soil that is often found in wines from South America. Not a dealbreaker as it is hard to find this level of quality at this price.

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  2/6/2014 - PSPatrick wrote: 86 Points

  “Mixed Bag of Merlots from around the World”-Tasting, Wine 5 (non-blind), in February 2014. The wine was dark ruby in colour and offered a very expressive, slightly artificial nose of red fruit, cassis, blackberry, some plum, some chocolate and some vegetal notes. On the flavourful palate the medium- to full-bodied wine showed sweet red fruit, blackberry, plum and mildly spicy notes, paired with medium-level acidity, medium-level chewy, astringent tannin, notable heat from the alcohol and good to very good length. The finish was dominated by the astringent tannin and the wine lacked balance. Overall rather disappointing, and surprisingly different from the solid bottle we tasted about two month ago. Drink know and over the next three years.

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  12/9/2013 - PSPatrick wrote: 88 Points

  “Mixed Bag of Chilean Wines”-Tasting, Wine 5 (non-blind), in December 2013. The wine was dark ruby in colour and offered a meaty nose of red and dark fruit, blackberry, red currant, cocoa, Maggi seasoning sauce and a hint of mint. On the flavourful palate the wine showed blackberry, black cherry, some plum, tobacco, some coffee, some dark chocolate and spicy notes, paired with medium-level acidity, medium-level medium-fine, well-integrated tannin, moderate heat from the alcohol and good length. The medium-complex wine had good concentration and was well-balanced. A very good, medium- to full-bodied, easy-drinking Merlot that may be consumed now, but also showed potential for further development with moderate cellaring. Better on day one than re-tasted on day two.

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  10/26/2013 - mistiano wrote: 88 Points

  Bouquet is a bit harsh at first, but it smooths out after a little while. Full body Merlot, with great chocolate and wood undertones. Goes well with Pasta and meat dishes.

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