Alpha Pinot Noir 2018
Trade Tools
Chile / Aconcagua Coast
The vineyards that produce the grapes for Montes Alpha Pinot Noir are located in the Casablanca, Zapallar, and Leyda Valleys, all located in the Aconcagua Coast wine region. All of the vineyards are trained to vertical shoot position and drip irrigated, and yields range from 6,245 to 7,137 lb/acre. Because vines have an excellent vegetative / productive balance, it is not necessary to adjust the load and canopy work is minimal. This also allows us to harvest healthy grapes with good balance.
Harvest Note
The 2017–18 season was characterized by a normal winter, with enough precipitation to provide for the vines until harvest. There was no spring frost severe enough to put production objectives at risk. Both budburst and flowering started with ample water in the soil, resulting in good canopies and bunch integrity until harvest. The summer was very cool, more so than usual. Much of the summer saw cloudy, cool days with low diurnal temperatures. Only in April did the days begin to clear after midday, which resulted in the harvest parameters Montes was looking for. The harvest began on almost the same date as the previous year, but due to the cooler weather, the speed of the ripening was very slow, extending the harvest for almost 15 days compared to 2017. The micro-climactic variability of the coastal zones accounts for the style of this wine, perfectly exemplified by this vintage.
Tasting Note
The nose is reminiscent of fresh wild fruit, tart plum, with notes of damp forest, and flowers. Its time spent in lightly toasted French oak lends a spicy, sweet edge, like pastry, with notes of vanilla, nutmeg, and jam. On the palate, it is beautifully balanced, with a light to medium body and vibrant acidity. An elegant and complex wine that shows that when it comes to Chilean Pinot Noir, there’s a lot to say!
Technical Data
GRAPES: 100% Pinot Noir
APPELLATION: Aconcagua Coast
PH: 3.54
ACIDITY: 3.68 g/l
ABV: 14%
AGING: 40% of the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 10–12 months
Unique Selling Points
- Pioneered the way for all premium wines in Chile, remains #1 in the niche
- Awarded ‘Top Scoring’ and ‘Best Value’ by the influential, Wine Spectator magazine
- 40% aged in French oak barrels for 10 months
- Juicy with balanced acidity and the sweetness of round, ripe tannins
- Vineyards located in Casablanca, Leyda and Zapallar Valleys, Aconcagua Wine Region
The story of Montes is a testament to what unique vision, grit, determination, and perseverance can achieve.
Aurelio Montes Sr, Chief Winemaker
About the Grape
Pinot Noir
In France, makes a silky, deceptively powerful wine of elegant, complex aromas and subtle, red fruit flavors, with earthy, floral, mushroom and mineral notes. In California, shows ripe, sweet characters.
