12 - Montes Wines

12
AN ANGELIC PUBLICATION, FROM CHILE WITH PRIDE
News
MONTES GOES BEYOND FRONTIERS
THE NEW “OUTER LIMITS” WINES
Aurelio’s restless nature keeps him always
looking for new adventures. The “Outer
Limits“ is his latest challenge, the first extreme
terroir collection of wines from Chile, produced
from vines being grown in extreme weather
conditions located in distant terroirs,
performing at the edge thus concentrating
their quality to the limit, producing fully
ripened fruit with bold flavors and mature
tannins that deliver wines with exceptional
varietal character and balance.
THE FIRST
“OUTER LIMITS“
FROM ZAPALLAR
The Zapallar vineyard is the first location
of these new collection of wines, a
coastal climate terroir featuring 45 hectares
(109 acres) of vines planted with Pinot
Noir (67%), Sauvignon Blanc (22%) and
Chardonnay (11%). Zapallar weather is
characterized for cold springs, mild morning
fogs with average temperature peaks at 25°C
(77F) and 12°C (54F).
Summer leads to slow and long ripening
period while Zapallar’s unique soil, a
mixture of granite and clay produces
moderate drainage and rich, full bodied
and savory wines. The combination of
t h i s e x t re m e c l i m a t e v i t i c u l t u re a n d
boundless winemaking yields intense
wines of exceptional balance and
aromas with mature flavors and tannins
with true-varietal character, producing
truly spectacular wines.
OUTER LIMITS
SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011
This Sauvignon Blanc comes from the
smooth slopes of our Zapallar vineyards,
Chile, located just 6 miles (9 km) from the
Pacific Ocean. This terroir provides
morning fog that burns at midday, ideal
conditions to ripen the grapes very slowly
resulting in a crisp, young and extremely
elegant Sauvignon Blanc; a beautifully
intense and lively wine, overflowing
with aromas of passion fruit with hints
of lime. It is mouth-filling with vibrant
fruits and an extraordinary mid-palate
lushness and weight, finishing rich
and racy with excellent length
and crispness.
OUTER LIMITS
PINOT NOIR 2010
This Pinot Noir comes
from our coastal Zapallar
estate, Chile. The closeness
to the Pacific Ocean
allows the grapes to ripen
slowly resulting in a
distinctively elegant Pinot
Noir seasoned with full
floral expressions. A
generous, bright ruby
red colored Pinot Noir,
boasts a seductive
perfume, fresh, elegant,
and wonderfully
balanced. The palate has
layers of red and dark
fruit, with round tannins,
and a lovely long soft
grain texture that leads
to a lingering pleasant
finish.
Sauvignon Blancs. The nose is like an ocean
breeze: the palate blends zestiness with fleshy
weight. Best Buy.”
DECANTER, U.K., August 2011 issue
“FINDING EL DORADO“
“While South America’s legendary City of Gold
was never found, treasures of the wine variety
abound in Argentina and Chile. Steven Spurrier
outlines what makes these countries so
special, while Peter Richards MW and Marina
Gayan MW pick out today’s star names
and must-buy wines.“ From “Chile’s Top 15
’Producers“ article, by Peter Richards MW:
WINE SPECTATOR, U.S.A., October 15, 2010
MONTES ALPHA SYRAH 2008
“A ripe, up-front style, displaying lots of
briar, anise, plum cake and fig flavors that
push through the juicy, full-bodied finish. Very
solid. – James Molesworth.”
WINE ENTHUSIAST, U.S.A., February 2011 issue
OUR LIMITED SELECTION
IS CHOSEN AS ONE OF
THE BEST SAUVIGNON
BLANC FROM CHILE
According to Wine Enthusiast, “The emerging
Leyda Valley, which has vineyards just 10
kilometers or less from the chilly Pacific Ocean,
has emerged as the top spot for snappy, citric,
fairly complex Sauvignons.“ ... “Last year’s
Sauvignon Blanc leaders included… 90 Points:
Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc
2009 (Leyda Valley), $15. Annually this ranks as
one of Chile’s most complex and satisfying
One to try: Montes Folly 2006, Syrah,
Colchagua
17.5 / £30.40 - £40 Andrew
Wilson, Everywine, Slurp, Wine Chambers.
“Intense and exhilarating, full of cassis and dark
chocolate flavours. The texture is fine and the
finish spicy and uplifting. Polished, utterly
captivating. Drink: 2011. Alc: 15%.“
WINE ADVOCATE (ROBERT PARKER), U.S.A.,
December 2010
GREAT SCORES TO
OUR MONTES WINES
BY WINE ADVOCATE
We are delighted to share the new scores by
Wine Advocate magazine (Robert Parker). An
early Christmas present for all of us at Montes.
We received the highest score ever for
Purple Angel, 94 points, and solid 91–90
points for the Montes Alpha range! Our
deep congratulations to Aurelio and his team
and gratitude to all of you for your continued
support over the years.
94 Points: Montes Purple Angel 2007
91 Points: Montes Alpha Carmenère 2008
91 Points: Montes Alpha Syrah 2008
90 Points: Montes Alpha Cab. Sauv. 2008
90 Points: Montes Alpha Merlot 2008
90 Points: Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2008
90 Points: Montes Limited Selection
Cabernet-Carmenère 2009
89 Points: Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2008
90 POINTS:
On “Chile’s Standouts” article, Michael
Schachner points out 30 Top Wines from Chile
to buy now and our Montes Limited Selection
Sauvignon Blanc is chosen as one of the
best Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, being rated
also as Best Buy.
outstanding, steep-slope vineyards in a terroir
pioneered by Montes himself. Montes wines are
hearty and rich in character (no shrinking violets
these) but often with a sophistication that sets
them apart from the crowd.
“Montes: Aurelio Montes is one of the great
patriarchs of the Chilean wine industry. His
influence spreads far beyond his eponymous
winery – he consults widely and is regularly cited
as a formative figure across several generations
of Chilean winemakers.
From humble, if dynamic beginnings as
“Discover Wine“ based in Curicó in the late
1980s, Montes now makes wines as far afield as
Argentina (Kaiken) and California (Napa Angel).
Colchagua is Montes’ home from home,
however, via its resplendent Feng Shui winery in
prime Apalta territory, which hosts some
dimensions of the company: environmental,
economic and social performance.
The GRI provides marks depending on
the complexity with which the company
demonstrates its level of commitment to
sustainable issues.
For further information:
http://www.globalreporting.org
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, Hong Kong,
January 20, 2011
THE BEST OF CHILE
MONTES GREEN
SPIRIT THRIVES GLOBAL
REPORTING INITIATIVE
APPROVES MONTES
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
By Jeannie Cho Lee, MW
(the first Asian Master of Wine)
“I was a guest of Wines of Chile and they had a
full itinerary for us – thirteen judges from around
the world who would evaluate 623 wines during
the week for their eighth annual Wines of Chile
Montes is proud to announce our receipt of a
level B check from the Global Reporting Initiative
(GRI) on our Montes Winery Sustainability Report
2009, commending our devotion to sustainable
practices. This is, so far, the highest available
recognition given by the GRI worldwide to
companies from the agricultural industry on
sustainability matters.
GRI is a non-government organization formed in
Holland in 1997, whose mission is to create
conditions for the transparent and reliable
exchange of sustainability information through
the development and continuous improvement
of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework.
According to this, each report must cover three
The rest of the week was a crash immersion
course on discovering the diversity and range of
Chilean wines. In addition to tasting about 100
wines per day for the competition, I also
organized tastings and visits to uncover the best
wines that Chile has to offer.
My 400-plus notes are filled with wonderful
discoveries – crisp vivacious whites from coastal
regions throughout the country, dark, serious
Carmenères from Apalta, elegant and intense
Cabernet Sauvignons from the older
vines in Maipo.
The best wines from Chile reflect the stunning
natural beauty of a country surrounded by
majestic mountains and the rough, cooling
Pacific Ocean.
Chile has really grown up. It is no longer a
country filled with cheap and cheerful wines.
There are impressive wines that in a blind tasting
will stack up well
against the very best
in their category.
If you don’t believe
me, seek out any
of the wines
recommended below
and include it in a
blind tasting lineup of
top wines in their
respective categories
from anywhere around
the world – the results
may surprise you.“
In order to preserve the integrity of its
surrounding ecosystem and promote welfare
among our workers and the community, Montes
Winery carries out evergreen principles that
maintain and improve our sustainable initiative as
an organization.
This includes –among other practices– water and
energy preservation techniques (by using
EcoGlass bottles, energy saving bulbs and
energetically efficient water wells), recycling
methods and compost production to fertilize our
vineyards organically. In addition, we provide
appropiate compensation and medical coverage
for all our workers, fund employee training
courses, educational studies and support their
children by assisting local theachers in Apalta on
academic programs.
and taste a dozen Chilean icon wines. There are
times when wine tasting can be painful rather
than a joy and this was one of them.
competition. Before work
officially started, we were
being treated to a relaxing
weekend in northern Chile
to experience first-hand
the diversity and beauty
of Chile’s narrow over
4,000 kilometre-long
terrain.
Thirty minutes after
arriving at the resort
hotel after a 36-hour
journey, I had to attend
the opening dinner
“2007 Montes Purple
Angel Carmenère:
Delightful aromas of
dark exotic fruits and
spices jump out from
the glass.
It’s the harmony and
balance that are most
impressive – the ripe
plummy Carmenère gets
a lift from a touch of
Petit Verdot in the blend.
93 points.“
MONTES IN
VINEXPO 2011
This year Montes featured all our wines at
Vinexpo, in Bordeaux, France. We were visited
by our importers and friends to taste the new
vintages and share the news of our wines… and
we enjoyed an special moment preparing a
delicious and relaxed barbecue with them. Thank
you all and hope to see you soon!
WEINWIRTSCHAFT MAGAZINE, Germany,
February 2011
DECANTER, U.K., February 2011
MONTES ALPHA SYRAH
SELECTED BY DECANTER AS
ONE OF THE BEST VALUE
SYRAHS UNDER £25
IN THE WORLD
Decanter panelist picked the world's top five
regions for Syrah: Rhône, France, Australia,
South Africa and Chile and asked their experts to
tell why their region offers the best value. They
backed up their arguments with 10 wines
each, all under £25. From Chile, our Montes
Alpha Syrah made the selection!
Top 50 Syrahs under £25 / Chile: Montes
Alpha Syrah 2007. Colchagua Valley,
£11 - 11.5. Christopher Piper, Private Liquor
Brands, Waitrose. “Fresh, spicy nose
–well made–, warmer-climate Syrah. No hard
edges but the power of dark berry fruit
moderated by juicy tannins and balancing
freshness. Drink 2011-2013.“
A spicy, bubbly and stylish mouth.
Flaunting sensations of vanilla and citric fruit,
remaining soft, nearly floral. The perfect
aperitif! Syrah Rosé, approx. 8.50 Euros.”
www.weinunion.de
OUR CABERNET-CARMENERE
IS TOP IN GERMANY
German world wine magazine Weinwirtschaft has
selected our Montes Limited Selection Cabernet
Sauvignon-Carmenère 2008 as one of its “Top
100 Wines” of 2010. Winners are selected based on
a range of factors including their quality and price,
brand image, market presence, and of course the
pleasure that they bring to consumers. And of
course, congratulations to our importers, Wein Wolf!
TOP MAGAZIN MÜNCHEN, Germany, May 2011
GQ MAGAZINE, Germany, June 2011
SUMMER WINE IN GERMANY
MONTES ALPHA
RECOMMENDED FOR
BARBECUES IN GERMANY
“Those who prefer to serve a good red
should try the South American Montes
Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2008.
This excellent Chilean offering is considered
one of the continent’s best. Price: 15 Euros
per bottle.”
PLAYBOY MAGAZINE, Germany, June 2011
A ROSE-COLORED
PERSPECTIVE:
MONTES CHERUB 2009
“For some time, these musts somewhere
in between red and white were considered
trivial. However, today’s connoisseurs see Rosé
wines from a distinctive perspective mainly
due to its versatility.
Aurelio Montes’ “Cherub“ style wine is rather
unique: this enlightened winemaker produces
his rosé wine with Syrah, a “multitalented”
variety let’s say (it almost always works
and everyone likes it). The Syrah offers a
raspberry-red colored outlook.
Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc:
“This Chilean wine from the Leyda Valley makes
an impact with its clear and shining yellow
color with green glints in the glass. A crafted
aromatic mix of exotically exuberant notes
and a fine citrus bouquet go together to add to
this wine’s sensual promise, opening up
great potential. Fresh and crisp on the
palate, with a lightly bubbly acidity. 100%
Sauvignon Blanc (8.90 Euros).”
THE HOUSE OF DOUGLAS MURRAY, Izu, Japan
WARM AFFECTION AND
ADMIRATION FOR DOUGLAS
MURRAY
MONTES IN TOKYO, JAPAN
Enoteca shop (Ginza area) team showing
Montes and Kaiken bottles last March 2011.
Thank you for your support!
NICE DINNER IN
ODAWARA, JAPAN
Last February 27th, 2011, Montes offered a
very nice and relaxed dinner at Hilton Odawara
in Japan. The team and chef at Hilton
did a great job matching our icon wines
with fantastic food. Congratulations!!! It was a
very nice evening.
In the picture, Mr. Makio Hashimoto,
President of Hashimoto; Ms. Chieko Sugiyama,
Director of Hashimoto. The picture was taken
by Mr. Kobayashi of Enoteca, our dear
importers in Japan.
GALLERY
OF IMPORTERS
WORLDWIDE
Mr. Yasuhisa Hirose
President Enoteca Co., Ltd., Japan
By Carlos Serrano
On my recent trip to Japan, our wonderful
importer of Enoteca, Yasuhisa Hirose, wanted to
show me something different, something special.
Together with his partner, Kentaro Abe, he took
me to Izu (2 hours to the south of Tokyo) for a
fascinating journey. We stayed in a very Japanese
house, in a group consisting of Hirose san, Abe
san, Watanabe san, Ishikura san and me. A
stupendous two story building, modern and in
exquisite taste, it was purchased last July as a
guest house and training venue. Impeccable,
comfortable, very airy and spacious and most
important of all, the house has a name: “The
House of Douglas Murray“. You can imagine my
immense excitement and surprise at seeing the
name of Douglas there. I understand the great
fondness and admiration that Hirose and Abe
feel for him. It’s impressive! As they told me,
they learned a great deal with Douglas, much
of which we have also come to know. This
is a very special and emotive memory of our dear
Douglas Murray.
When I was a student, I visited the U.S and met a
nice Chilean man. He told me a lot about Chile,
such as their history, culture, and also “Wine”
which aroused my interest most. Since then, I
had a special interest in Chile and Chilean wine.
In 1988, I established Enoteca Co., Ltd. and
opened the first wine shop Enoteca in Tokyo in
1989. Since then, I had been seeking to find an
opportunity to introduce Chilean wines to
Japanese customers. One day, a French man
who is a good friend of mine recommended me
“Montes” and I had a chance to meet Mr.
Douglas Murray in Japan. I was very attracted by
Montes wines and, especially the personality of
Mr. Murray! I remembered that I was so happy
that I could start working with him. I was
honored and appreciate that he chose us as a
partner at that time. Montes is the most popular
brand at all Enoteca shops. There are 2 main
reasons. One is Montes wine’s quality and the
other is the passion of Montes people.
Especially, Mr. Murray visited Japan many times
for the tasting and dinner promotion and made
a big effort to expand the market of Montes
wines. There are so many Chilean wines in
Japan, but our customers purchase Montes
wines repeatedly as they trust the quality and the
people. Also, Enoteca staff loves Montes – wine,
people, company... everything. It is like a feeling
of friendship and family, not just a business
partner. I appreciate all their support and
continue to try the best to promote Montes
wines more and more.
THE REVERSE WINE SNOB, U.S.A.,
April 25, 2011
A NICE CABERNET FROM CHILE
FOOD & WINE BLOG (foodandwineblog.com),
U.S.A., March 4, 2011
MONTES ALPHA CARMENERE:
JUST FANTASTIC!
By Michael Mohammadi
“There are some great vineyards in Chile (this
isn’t news to those who follow the wine
industry). Of the most popular regions, the D.O.
of Colchagua Valley is currently making the most
exciting wines in perhaps all of South America
(though some Argentine Pinot Noir is giving it a
run for its money). Recently I had a chance to
taste through a variety of wines from the well
known producer Montes, of whom I first
sampled a few years back.
“Montes Alpha has become, in the past
fifteen years, a benchmark for other Chilean
wineries to follow, always in search for
Chile's full potential. Having chosen the most
difficult niche to focus on (hotels, restaurants,
wine-merchants, delicatessen), we have
constantly created beautifully complex but really
friendly wines that, once tasted, generate solid
loyalty from our beloved followers. To them,
our gratitude.
INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE, U.K.,
January 2011
2000 AND 2005 MONTES
ALPHA CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RECEIVE 93 POINTS FROM
THE LIBRARY COLLECTION
The entire lineup showed me that the
vineyard is putting out some damn good
fruit, and the winemaker is using progressive
methods to bring new winemaking
techniques to this well established winery.
Of the wines I tasted, by and far my favorite
was the 2008 Carmenère. I love Carmenère, and
tend to be a tough critic of these wines.
They can end up light in fruit, too much oak to
cover off balanced flavors and acidity. But this
2008 Carmenère from Montes Alpha is just
fantastic. For $24 you get a mouthful of fruit,
exotic spices, dark notes and intensity from the
beginning of the sip through the medium finish.
The wine is surprisingly elegant for a
Carmenère and really bring depth and
roundness. Highly recommended –
92 Points, OV (outstanding value).”
The IWC Library Collection, a respected
international blind tasting competition, has
recognized selected Montes premium and ultra
premium wines.
Aurelio Montes has pioneered in premium and
ultra-premium wines, in discovering new wine
regions like the superb Apalta Valley and
Marchigüe (both in Colchagua), in establishing
low-yield steep mountain vineyards and, in doing
so, has gained wide international recognition.
Wine Spectator said it briefly: "Montes offers
perhaps the broadest range of quality wine in
Chile today"… “Nourished with T.L.C. (Tender
Loving Care) all our vines and wines are the
result of personal dedication, a great Team and a
little help from our Angels.”
The 2008 Montes Alpha Cabernet
Sauvignon is a nice, smooth, drinkable wine.
There's plum, ripe fruit, and a little earthiness on
the nose. In the mouth nice tannins complement
the smoothness. We found it a tad bitter on the
finish, however. Overall, a relatively simple
wine that is really quite easy to drink but not
anything fantastic.
There are a number of users on Cellartracker
who believe this wine is still too young, which
may be the case, but we can only rate it as it
stands now. Taste Rating: 7 / Value (Cost) Rating:
5 / Overall Rating: 6.5.”
Both the 2000 and 2005 vintages of Montes
Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon were awarded
splendid scores at this wine tasting carried out in
London on September 2010. The 93 points
awarded to both wines puts them in the same
category as other outstanding wines, such as
Chateau Pichon–Longueville 2000 and Jacob's
Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz Barossa Valley 2005.
Additionally, other Montes wines featured in the
competition were also remarkably rated with
scores above 90 points, including: Montes
Alpha Syrah 2000 and 2005, Montes Alpha
M 2000 and Montes Folly 2005. All of these
recognitions express the significance of the
extraordinary long term aging potential of our
wines after several years of cellar.
The International Wine Challenge (IWC) is an
annual wine competition, acknowledged as
the most influential blind wine tasting in the
world. The IWC Library Collection is an extension
of this as it follows the same judging principles.
The aim of the Library Collection, which focuses
on 10 and 5 years old wines, is to introduce and
promote the best premium wines by showing
and recognizing their cellar potential and
provenance. Wines are graded on a 100-points
scale by a group of experts, including Tim Atkin
MW, Sam Harrop MW, Charles Metcalfe, Derek
Smedley MW and Oz Clarke.
January 10, 2011
BEN WEINBERG VISITED
MONTES
April 2011
TGIC TEAM VISITS MONTES
We were happy to welcome a large group from
TGIC, our US importer. In a relaxed atmosphere, they
visited our vineyards and winery in Apalta, and
enjoyed a sunny day at our Marchigüe vineyards.
We had the pleasure to receive in Apalta,
Certified Sommelier and professional wine
writer Ben Weinberg, Editor-in-Chief of
“Unfiltered, Unfined“ who visited us while
travelling thorough Chile. In his blog
(unfilteredunfined.com) he wrote: “Although I’d
sampled some of the Montes wines before, our
tour with family scion Dennis Murray was a
revelation and I quickly came to realize that this is
one of the finest wine estates in the world.
Tasting with Dennis Murray of Montes: Great
values abound at all levels of Montes offerings,
including the Montes Alpha Chardonnay. Aged
in French oak, this elixir exuded sour cherry
blossom, yellow pear and a bit of Indian ghee,
with apricot and ripe red pears on the mediumlength finish. Not excessively buttery at all, in
fact, this wine’s texture was just right.
DEX MAGAZINE, Germany, Summer 2011
DELICIOUS SUMMER WINE
Montes Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2010 has
been recommended by Dex Magazine, from
Düsseldorf: “From Casablanca Valley, Chile.
Taste: Dry. Characteristics: Powerful and fresh
fragrance, citrus fruits, gooseberry and passion
fruit. Alcohol: 12,7%. Price: approx. 7 Euros.”
THE TELEGRAPH, Calcutta, India, April 2, 2011
STORIES OF CHILE
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL (journalnow.com),
U.S.A., February 9, 2011
MONTES ALPHA SYRAH: AN
INTENSE AND LUXURIOUS RED
By Michael Hastings
“The 2008 Montes Alpha Syrah (Colchagua
Valley, Chile, $20) is a rich, full-bodied red that
gets a little added complexity from 5 percent
Viognier. This has a slightly floral aroma that's
soon superseded by tobacco and leather notes.
The tobacco and leather are joined by spice and
a mere touch of berry fruit on the palate. This is
an intense, luxurious red all through the long
finish. Serve with hearty red meat dishes.
Available at The Fresh Market.”
Another top-notch offering from Montes is their
flagship wine, the Montes Alpha M, a Bordeauxstyle blend of 80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon,
10 percent Cabernet Franc, and five percent
each of Merlot and Petite Verdot. The purple
color belied the white pepper and black cherry
nose, while a raspberry coulis and watermelon
mid-palate coexisted harmoniously with a
smooth, dark chocolate and cassis finish. This
wine was so long that I could still taste it half an
hour later, making it one of the finest wines I’ve
ever tasted anywhere.”
By Harshal Shah, sommelier and former
executive committee member of the Australian
Sommeliers Association: “Chile has the potential
to make the best Syrah outside the Rhône, says
Harshal Shah. Remember these words: Chilean
Syrah will be a hit this year. For a country that
has long been seen as a conservative wine
nation, it’s certainly proving that it’s able to
impress and demostrate flair in the wines it
produces.“ … “Chilean Syrah from the cooler
regions of Elqui (where it’s grown at 2,000m)
and Leyda, a tiny area in San Antonio in the
Aconcagua appellation, has some sexy surprises.
Elqui and Leyda are coastal regions exposed to
the cold Pacific climate. Altitude also cools the
climate, and so the Syrahs produced here have
loads of black pepper and raspberries. Add to
that subtle meaty/leathery aromas, juicy, spicy
flavours, fine, chalky tannins and bright acidity
and you have potentially the best representation
of Syrah outside of the Rhône. Sanjay Menon
of Sonarys in Mumbai imports one: Montes
‘Folly’. Montes is one of the most famous
producers from Chile. Founded in 1988, the
company placed Chile on the international
wine map by making world-class wine
when most other producers in Chile were
churning out bulk, commercial, uninspiring
wine. In India, expect to pay about
Rs 7,500 for it.“
V J MUSINGS (vijaysrinivasan.wordpress.com),
Mumbai, India, February 13, 2011
MONTES ALPHA
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
IS RECOMMENDED
IN INDIA
By Vijay Srinivasan
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2008:
“This time around, I picked up two bottles of
Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from
Chile. This has been a favourite of mine for over
7 years now. All Montes Alpha red wines are
great wines. And since these great wines cost
less than half of their price in India elsewhere, it
makes sense to bring them into the country at
every opportunity.
The Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied wine
with a long persistence and a wonderful finish. It
has an intense ruby colour with a chocolate and
blackcurrant fruit flavour. I really like this wine
after it is decanted for some 10 minutes. The full
nose and the palate impact are evident, and the
wine can be relished.
I am recommending this wine as a strong buy at
approximately INR 720. This price is closer to INR
1,800 in India. Can we ask Indian Government
to encourage wine drinking by allowing great
products to come in at some 10% duty instead
of 100%? We, wine drinkers, are still waiting.
The only opportunity we get is to buy some of
these excellent wines outside the country at zero
duty at duty-free shops in international airports.
Let us see! There are more pressing things
requiring urgent attention and resolution by the
Government of India at this moment, as we all
know! Cheers!”
WINE DINNER IN HONG KONG
Wine dinner at Saint George’s restaurant in Hong
Kong last June 29th 2010, organized by Montes!
Very nice venue, dinner and of course wines.
NANING CHINESE DAILY, China, June 18, 2011
PURPLE ANGEL IN CHINA
INTERNATIONAL FASHION
EXPO 2011
“The China (Nanning) International Fashion Expo
2011, from June 17 to 20, was held at the
International Convention and Exhibition Center
of Nanning city, in Guangxi, province of China.
Red wine is an important part of fashion show.
At the hall #10 you can find many quality wines
and spirits from all over the world.
China Wine Platform Limited brings the famous
Chilean brand Montes wine to Nanning! A lot of
Montes fans and new friends come to the
exhibition booth. Greg Li, CEO of CWPL said:
“Montes Purple Angel is a rising star in the
Chinese market. It is a blend of 92% Carmenère
and 8% Petit Verdot from the Colchagua Valley.
18 months in new French oak barrels and very
suitable for the Chinese taste”.
Those who did the tasting at the stand were very
impressed especially when they know even Mr
Obama, the President of the USA, drank this
wine at the State reception dinner during his
recent visit to Chile. We discovered from our
interview that Mr Li is actually by birth a distant
cousin to the famous movie gungfu star Mr.
Bruce Li. No wonder Montes Purple Angel is
really among the stars.“
MEXICO CITY, Mexico,
May 2011
MONTES NUMBER ONE
IN BLIND TASTING
IN MEXICO
Our Montes Limited Selection Cabernet
Sauvignon 70% Carmenère 30% took first place
in 3 blind tastings of a sample of 80 red wines,
conducted by the “Asociación de Sommeliers
Mexicanos“ for Superama, a specialized retail
chain owned by Walmart Mexico.
MIRO POPIC.COM, Venezuela,
February 20, 2011
MONTES ALPHA PINOT NOIR:
SENSUAL AND BALANCED
By Miro Popic
The renowned Venezuelan food journalist and
writer Miro Popic, who each year edits the
national dining guide “Guía Gastronómica
de Venezuela“, draws attention to our
Montes Alpha Pinot Noir on his website:
“The hardest wine to describe in a unified way
is the Pinot Noir.
COCINA SEMANA.COM, Colombia,
February 2011
A JEWEL FROM THE LEYDA
VALLEY
By José Rafael Arango
Montes Alpha Pinot Noir 2008, Leyda Valley.
Aging: 60% of the wine is aged for 12 months
in French oak barrels (20% of which are new).
Recommended by Marcel Brons. “This wine is
one of the treasured jewels of oenologist Aurelio
Montes, and comes from the Leyda Valley,
considered a promising region.
Without doubt the archetype is in its homeland,
Burgundy, but there is a wider world of other
pinots that, making no attempt to imitate the
French style, acquire their own characteristics
that make them hugely attractive. One of these,
for example, is the new Montes Alpha
Pinot Noir 2008.
It comes from the valley of Casablanca, Chile, a
cool and oceanic land that provides the grapes
with a lengthy but mild growing season,
allowing ripening to complete the vegetative
cycle and achieving, if harvested at the
opportune moment, an unbeatable balance.
This is a pinot with a life of its own, floral,
balanced, sensual, and more structured than
others of its variety. True, this is not a Burgundy,
but what a delicious wine!”
This wine is ruby coloured and its bouquet is of
strawberry jam and rose petals. In the mouth it
offers excellent acidity, accompanied with notes
of cherry compote and coconut. Price: $75,000.
Score: 5 grapes –Very good.”
W HOTEL, Santiago, Chile, February 2011
WINE ANGELS TALK
AT HEIGHTS
A second edition of the event "Wine Angels
Talks" was carried out on the 21st floor of the W
Hotel building in Santiago. The meeting,
organized by both the Hotel and Montes Winery,
counted with the presence of members from
“El Círculo del Angel”, an exclusive club of
Montes wines lovers, who had the opportunity
to taste the Syrah from our vineyard in
Colchagua Valley. The person who led this event
from heights was Gustavo Hörmann, one of our
oenologists, who began the tasting with a
Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc
from Leyda Valley as an aperitif, followed by a
series of top Syrah from the Montes Cherub,
Montes Alpha and Montes Folly ranges,
which were matched up with cautivating dishes.
PALACIO DE LA MONEDA, Santiago, Chile,
March 21, 2011
MONTES AT THE DINNER IN
HONOUR OF PRESIDENT
BARACK OBAMA
With 350 guests and the strictest protocol, a
dinner was held in honor of the President of the
United States, Barack Obama, on the first
evening of his official visit to Chile. Amid great
anticipation, the US head of state arrived at the
Palacio de La Moneda, official residence of the
President of Chile, accompanied by his wife,
Michelle Obama; they were received by the
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera and first lady
Cecilia Morel. The menu featured the best of
Chilean Cuisine: scallops from Tongoy, tuna from
Easter Island, lamb from Punta Arenas, lobster
from Juan Fernández Island, salmon, Chilean
king crab, papayas from La Serena … and,
naturally, Chilean wine. Our Purple Angel 2009,
from the Colchagua Valley and Montes Late
Harvest 2008, from the Curicó Valley, were
chosen for the banquet.
MONTES IN NEW YORK CITY
Saturday October 9th 2010 was a great evening
in New York City. At Puro Chile store Aurelio
conducted a guided seminar and tasting to more
than 40 people. They were able to listen from
Aurelio the great conditions Chile and Argentina
have for wine production.
MOSCOW, Russia, June 23, 2011
THE STAR.COM, Canada, November 26, 2010
As part of ProChile’s trade promotion activities,
which seek to position Chilean products in
international markets characterized by a
privileged geographic location in Europe and the
East, we were present at the Russian launch of
the “Flavors of Chile” Route that was recently
held in Moscow, Russia. The challenge is to
highlight the Chilean origins of food and drink
By Gord Stimmell, Wine Critic
“The theme for the five wines reviewed each
week in this column is affordable excellence.
Each rises far above its price tag. They are
selected from the newly arrived Vintages wines I
taste each week. However, Saturday’s mammoth
release consists of 160 wines, including what
Vintages bills as “Our Finest”. So in addition to
the five fantastic value bottles, I am naming
winners in other categories. Think Christmas
gifts… Dessert wine: Highest rated, and
great value is Montes Late Harvest 2008
Gewürztraminer (#199828, $16.95, 91) with
peach, grapefruit, raisins and honeycomb
sweetness from Chile.“
MONTES ON THE “FLAVORS OF
CHILE” ROUTE IN RUSSIA
BEST BOTTLES FROM A
MAMMOTH HOLIDAY RELEASE
products among consumers. After the seminars
and trade meetings, the Chilean business leaders
enjoyed a tasting dinner prepared by a
renowned Chilean chef, which they shared with
300 Russian business figures, journalists, and
opinion makers. Our Montes Chardonnay,
contributed by our importers DP Trade,
accompanied a mussel and saffron soup, very
well presented by the Chef and very well
received by the guests.
VERTICAL TASTING IN
HALIFAX, CANADA
Thank you Bishop’s Cellar in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada, for having our wines. Carlos Serrano
hosted a vertical tasting with the team and
clients in October 2010. Thank you Guy from
Whitehall and Mike and Danny from Innovative
Beverages for your continous support!
VINTAGES MAGAZINE, LCBO, Canada,
November 2010
91 POINTS TO PURPLE ANGEL
IN CANADA
Purple Angel 2007: “Tasting Note: Broad
and ripe, displaying layers of boysenberry,
plum and fig fruit all held together by notes
of maduro tobacco, spice cake and smoked
applewood. The long, rich finish lets a
dark licorice note play out. Drink now
through 2011. Score - 91.“ (James Molesworth,
winespectator.com, Oct. 15, 2010). Vintages
62364 / Price: $ 49.95 / 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
VINES MAGAZINE, Canada, August 2010
MONTES CLASSIC
CABERNET SAUVIGNON:
BEST BUY IN CANADA
By Gord Stimmell, Wine Critic
“These affordable wines are ideal options to buy
in bulk to restock your fridge — they're wines
that deliver bona fide enjoyment every time…
(4 stars) Montes Classic Cabernet
Sauvignon 2008: Chile continues to be a wine
lover’s paradise because wines at every price
point continue to improve. Case in point, this
great value red from Montes that’s a new
release in Ontario. This boasts terrific character
with a pleasingly soft texture. It’s flavourful
enough to enjoy on its own and bright
and balanced enough to match with
pasta, pizza or simply grilled meat entrées.
$12.95 (157883).“
BBC GOOD FOOD MAGAZINE, U.K.,
December 01, 2010
CHRISTMAS DRINK:
RED FOR THE TURKEY
Sarah Jane Evans recommends the best bottles
for every festive occasion. Montes Alpha Syrah
2007, Colchagua Valley, Chile, 14.5%, £8.99
(down from £10.99, 1 Dec-4 Jan) The
Cooperative. “Dark and silky, with blackberries
and a note of white pepper. This bold but
elegant Syrah matches spicy stuffings and
red cabbage.“
HOSPITALITYENEWS.COM, Ireland, Sep 17, 2010
MONTES DEVELOPS
CHILE “TERROIR“
By Frank Corr
“Chile is celebrating the 200th. Anniversary of its
independence and the heroics of Irish soldier of
fortune Bernardo O’Higgins, the country’s
‘Liberator’. It is no surprise therefore that this
month has seen the arrival here of several
leading Chilean winemakers, the most recent
being the renowned Aurelio Montes (pictured
here with Frank Corr) who conducted a
tasting of his wines which are now distributed
here by Barry Fitzwilliam. Montes, he said, makes
wines for the consumer and tries to match
consumer tastes. ‘Journalists and wine experts
want to go back to the French style, but the
consumer goes the other way. We want to go
with the market.’ He does lean towards France
however by opting for syrah rather than shiraz
on his labels. ‘Australia has flooded the market
with shiraz- so I am glad to have syrah’. Today
Montes makes its wines in a futuristic winery
designed according to Feng Shui principles. It is
accessed by crossing a moat and inside the
Montes Angel stands watch as grapes are fed
by gravity down through the levels of the
winery as water, light and space merge in
tranquil harmony.
DAILY MIRROR ONLINE, U.K.,
December 10, 2010
OUR MONTES ALPHA
CHARDONNAY SELECTED
BY THE “CHRISTMAS
WINE GUIDE 2010“
“Chris Wilson selects some festive wines to enjoy
over on Christmas Day and over the holidays.
From celebratory fizzes to steely whites and bold
warming reds here are two dozen wines worth
checking out this Christmas.“ … “Montes
Alpha Chardonnay 2008: This Chardonnay
from one of Chile’s best known brands should
even excite the Anything But Chardonnay crew
as it’s made in a very different style to other new
world Chardonnays. Simply put there’s a lot less
vanilla and butter on the palette here, rather
tonnes of fresh acid, green and stone fruits
and a long, satisfying finish.“ £10.99, Tesco,
Majestic, Waitrose.
made by the rugged Aurelio Montes who could
stick a stetson on his head and run a gunbelt
round his waist and terrify Gary Cooper.“ …
“First, the whites. Limited Selection Sauvignon
Blanc 2010 (£6.70, Majestic) is in the class of
anything from New Zealand or Sancerre. Alpha
Chardonnay 2008 (£11.24, Majestic,, Tesco and
Waitrose) is one of the loveliest chardonnays I´ve
tasted all year.
On the red side, the Reserva Merlot 2009
(Majestic, £8.49) is beautifully textured. Reserva
Malbec 2009 (£8.99, Co-op) is similarly so, but a
touch more robust. Limited Selection Pinot Noir
2009 (£9.49, Majestic) has a succulent black
cherry richness. Alpha Pinot Noir 2008 (£10.95,
winedirect.com) is serious competition for any
great red burgundy. Montes Alpha Carmenère
2007 (£12, everywine.co.uk) shows touches of
coffee and cocoa. Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 (£11.99, Tesco, Morrisons, Majestic,
slurp.co.uk) is like a cherry liqueur with a hint of
anise. That leaves only the greatest red wine I`ve
tasted all year – the Montes Folly Syrah 2006
(£36.99, qpwines.com), a shiraz full of complex
nutty fruit that slips down like melted chocolate.
Sheer hedonistic yumminess.“
DAILY TELEGRAPH, U.K., January 01, 2010
The Dublin tasting at the Dylan Hotel included
the Classic Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2009
(up to £10.99 rrp), Alpha Chardonnay from
the Casablanca Valley which is available around
£15.99 and, according to Michael Barry
represents ‘the best quality to value on the
market.’, a Merlot (£11.99) and Alpha Cabernet
Sauvignon, which was balanced and appealing
as was the 2006 Syrah with its decidedly Old
World style. The tasting concluded with the
‘Alpha M’ (mostly cabernet sauvignon) selling at
a whopping £50 and Montes iconic ‘Purple
Angel’, one of the finest carmenères
produced in Chile today.“
OUR MONTES MERLOT
SELECTED AS TOP WINE BY
DAILY TELEGRAPH, UK
HELLO MAGAZINE, U.K., December 2010
DIVINE WINE
“Let me lead you, gently but firmly, out of your
comfort zone, into the magical world of truly
luxurious wine.
“I don’t like spending a fortune,“ is your
response, but who said you have to? All wines
that follow, richly mellow reds and silkily elegant
whites, are superb value for money. And
they come from just two Chilean producers:
Lapostolle and Montes.“ … “Montes wines are
By Jonathan Ray
2008 Montes Reserve Merlot, (14%vol, Chile
(£5.99 reduced from £7.99 if you buy two as
part of a mixed half dozen until Feb 1; Majestic).
“Montes make lovely stuff and this wine from
the Colchagua Valley is no exception, a ripe,
juicy, vibrant merlot enriched and emboldened
by a splash of cabernet sauvignon. It is well
structured, yet supple and has just a touch of
spice. Serve with grilled lamb cutlets or
Moroccan lamb tagine.“
partners. With 150 hectares of vines, Montes is
one of the major landowners in the Apalta
Valley. And this growing interest was followed by
bold new steps in business expansion.
On this path, it was the first Chilean
wine producer to launch its own
project in the Napa Valley, which has
already brought its first excellent
wines to market. Apart from its iconic
finest wines, such as the Cabernet
Sauvignon Montes Alpha M, Montes
produces many other wines. They all
share one feature: a large measure of
success among wine lovers and wine
critics, such as the American Robert
Parker, who scored no less than 8 of
these wines 90 points or more.”
FINESSE MAGAZINE, Hamburg, Germany,
December 2010
FINESSE MAGAZINE, Hamburg, Germany,
Autumn 2010
AURELIO MONTES JR.
IN GERMANY
“With its Classic, Limited Selection, and Montes
Alpha lines, Montes and his partners set
the foundations of a prosperous company,
producing wines that are already receiving great
recognition around the world. The Curicó Valley
in Chile is known as the homeland of its
showpiece wine. However, the center of activity
has moved to Apalta in the Colchagua Valley.
There vines are grown on premium lands to
make connoisseurs dream. And this is no
miracle, as it is not only the extraordinary wine
land that produces wines of excellence, but also
the cutting edge and widely admired production
facility, built according to the principles of Feng
Shui, that contributes to the production of
absolutely world class wines.
It is no coincidence that when the founders met
in 1988, from the very start they were seen as a
winning team – as these were four people in the
wine business who complemented each other
perfectly. Oenologist Aurelio Montes contributed
the vineyards and is in charge of the production
of the wines. With his 60 hectares “Nogales”
vineyard, Pedro Grand made a significant
contribution in kind. Alfredo Vidaurre and
Douglas Murray brought extensive experience in
the wine export and marketing business. The
quality of their teamwork could soon be
measured in the great demand for their
products, requiring further growth. The company
currently owns 600 hectares of vineyards, and
more growing land is held privately by the
“WELCOME TO THE
WORLD OF MONTES”
“Aurelio Montes, of the wine producer of the
same name, has played a vital role in the success
of the wines produced in the Colchagua, Leyda,
and Curicó Valleys, that are today among the
best wine country in Chile.
TOP MAGAZIN MÜNCHEN, Germany,
November 2010
MONTES IN MUNICH,
GERMANY
“Aurelio Montes Senior welcomes Munich wine
lovers to an evening of fine cuisine and special
wines from Montes in Chile, Kaiken in
Argentina, and Napa Angel in California. Our
favorite: Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon.”
OUR ANGEL IN SWITZERLAND
We were overjoyed to learn that our wines are
greatly appreciated in Switzerland. Even our
importers Haecky Drink & Wine take them
seriously, emblazoning our logo on their vehicles.
And our distributors Kaufman make no secret of
their love for our Purple Angel!
What is more, the name Montes evokes the
legendary Andes Mountains that separate Chile
from Argentina. From time to time Aurelio
crosses the mountain range to produce
outstanding wines on the other side of the
Andes, under the name “Kaiken”. But that is not
all. He has also been drawn to the Napa Valley in
California, where Aurelio Senior has had great
success with his “Napa Angel”. Aurelio Montes
Junior fascinated the public on the evening of 16
November at the “meatery” of the SIDE Hotel in
Hamburg. His favorite for Christmas: Montes
Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon.”
winemaking process. Grape variety, climate and
terroir all complement one another and in regard
to the wine making itself, we want to fully
respect and appreciate the grapes’ natural taste.
But, at the same time, one cannot always
resolutely stick to the rules of winemaking;
mixing and matching grape varieties with regions
differing to those from which they originate can
also lead to an improved quality and style of a
wine being created.” Aurelio does not know a
great deal about Chinese wine, but he believes
that with sufficient attention paid to the three
elements mentioned above, then the production
of a local and unique wine is more than possible.
SINGAPORE, September 2010
SILVER AWARD TO MONTES
ALPHA SYRAH IN SINGAPORE
Montes Alpha Syrah has won the Silver Award
at the American Express Tower Club “Wine
Awards 2011“, in Singapore. Our Syrah was
selected in the “New World Single Varietal Red“
category. Blind-tasted and judged by a discerning
group of Tower Club Members, American
Express card members and wine consultants, the
wines were submitted for the full-day judging
session. In true essence to the objective of the
event, organiser Tower Club Singapore delivered
its promise of acknowledging the best wines
available in Singapore.
CHINA WINE NEWS, Hong Kong,
November 2010
MONTES AND THEIR UPMOST
RESPECT TO THE TERROIR
“Aurelio’s success originates from his use and
understanding of natural resources and he
believes that high quality wine is created from
within the vineyard itself: “When it comes to the
terroir, one can never devote too much time or
respect. Different terroirs can produce different
wines, and are in fact the key to creating the
structure of a wine. Since good quality grapes
can produce good quality wine, I therefore think
of myself more as a grape grower than a
winemaker.” He firmly believes that grapes each
have their own suitable environment and terroir,
Chile’s Apalta Valley, for instance, being
outstanding grounds for red wines. “The three
important elements in wine making are having
good grapes matched with the right climate and
soil type, together with a good grasp of the
Aurelio has personally striven to push Chile’s
wines to their pinnacle, and he often says: “We
are always looking for a new place to grow our
grapes; space at the base of mountains for
growing hardy grapes, cooler regions for
growing white grapes, warmer regions
for growing red varietals. We are always looking
to the future.”
CHINA WINE NEWS, Hong Kong,
November 2010
WATCHING OVER
“THE ANGEL“ OF WINE
An Interview with Montes Sole Distributor in
China, China Wine Platform Ltd.
“As the director of China Wine Platform Ltd, sole
distributor in China for Montes Chilean Wine,
Mr. Gregory Li has poured all of his energy into
the brand. Montes is sold in over one hundred
countries across the world, and has earned itself
high respect as a result of its outstanding
flavours and great value for money wines. Mr. Li
spoke frankly, saying “The main reason I chose
to take on Montes as my leading brand is
because of how recognizable it is for its quality;
Montes is among the most outstanding of
Chilean wines.”
“Chile’s terrains are blessed with many natural
advantages, creating numerous examples of
outstanding wine from
different varietals. The
Montes Alpha series was
Chile’s first example of high
quality wines, with grapes
being meticulously tended
and cultivated from centuryold vines, resulting in
consistent quality. At
the very beginning
there was only the
Cabernet Sauvignon Alpha,
representing the top-most
end of Chile’s high quality
wines through its deep,
refined and distinctive taste.
Within the Alpha series, were you
to take one of the single varietals
or one of the blends, you would
find that each wine has its own
unique qualities.
Since Montes wines entered the
Chinese market, it has followed
a path of steady improvement, whilst China
Wine Platform Ltd has followed and expanded
alongside the market. Head of the winery, Mr.
Aurelio Montes, came to China in person on a
promotional tour, and on the fifteenth of
November China Wine Platform Ltd threw a
welcoming party in his honour, attended by
many of Beijing’s distributors and managers.
“Our company imports fine wines from all over
the world, and the China Wine Platform group
hopes that China will plant a seed of a dream,
and that this seed may lead wine lovers to their
own dreams, and that they may receive as much
joy and happiness as possible from the wine in
the world, because our motto is ‘Wine World,
Wine Dream’!” As the interview draws to a
close, Mr. Li’s impassioned speech is like drinking
a fine wine, leaving a delicious aftertaste.“
MONTES PRESENCE IN MEXICO
HOTEL PRESIDENTE: Pedro Poncelis and the
Sommelier staff of the hotel – which possesses
the country’s largest cellars – with a strong
presence of our Montes Alpha wines in all of the
hotel’s restaurants: Alfredo Di Roma, Au Pied de
Cochon, Zhen Shangai, and The Palm.
MONTES VISITED BY
5 RENOWNED BRAZILIAN
JOURNALISTS
On 12 May it was our honor to welcome
five renowned Brazilian journalists to our Bodega
at La Finca de Apalta, as part of a visit organized
by Wines of Chile. They joined us on a tour
of our vineyards and a tasting of our premier
wines. Our guests were Luis Horta, of the
newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo, one of the
country’s largest and most influential dailies;
Christian Burgos, editor of the wine magazine
Adega; Renato Frascino, wine editor of the
magazine Gourmet Life; Danilo Nakamura, of
the food and wine magazine DiVino; and Carlos
Coelho, of the newspaper Gazeta do Povo and
the food magazine Bom Gourmet.
CLUB DE BANQUEROS: A tasting of our
Montes, Montes Alpha, and Ultra Premium
wines was attended by 170 people. Emiliano
Pérez-Salas (Commercial Director of our importer
La Compañía del Vino S.A.); Sonia Montanares
(Montes), and Alejandro Vargas (President of the
Club de Banqueros).
EXPO GOURMET: A tasting of our Purple
Angel, the outstanding Montes Carmenère,
was met with great success and enthusiasm,
attended by leading figures in the world of
fine dining in Mexico. From left to right:
Alex Zárate (food writer); Emiliano Pérez-Salas
(Commercial Director of our importer
La Compañía del Vino S.A.); Chef Francisco
Méndez of the restaurant Tapas Bar; and
Chef Edgar Núñez of the restaurant Sud 777,
who is also well known for his show “Hombres
en la Cocina” on the Utilísima cable TV channel.
URUGUAYAN SOMMELIERS
AT OUR VINEYARDS
We recently welcomed a group of sommeliers
from Montevideo, Punta del Este, and Riviera,
Uruguay, who travelled in the company of
Gastón Figun, a partner of Vinos del Mundo of
Punta del Este, associated with our importer
Frigorífico Castro in the country. The group
shared a very special day in our vineyards at “La
Finca de Apalta” in Santa Cruz, and took part in
the 2011harvest at our vineyards of
“El Arcángel” in Marchigüe.
OUR CHARDONNAY
POPULAR IN BARBADOS
Celeste Pontifex, Commercial Manager
of our importer Platinum Wines in Barbados,
highlighted the presence of our Montes
Alpha Chardonnay on the 2010-2011 wine lists
at many restaurants on the island.
Mariela Castro, Andina S.A. Sommelier
OUR WINES GROWING IN
POPULARITY IN PARAGUAY
The presence of Montes and Montes Alpha in
Paraguay has shown sustained growth as the
archetypal premium Chilean wine, earning renowned
for its presence in the capital city’s most exclusive
locations: boutique hotels, restaurants, and purveyors
of fine wines. The entry into the market of Napa
Angel wines has also been noteworthy, as they are
the first Californian wines to reach Paraguay, earning
wide acceptance after a prelaunch for the press and
for clients. “HSBC Experience” events are now taking
place, in partnership with the bank, offering VIP clients
an exclusive tasting of luxury wines – headed up by
Montes Alpha Syrah and including Napa Angel.
CHILE SUNDAY APRIL 11th,
2010 WAS A GLORIOUS DAY
FOR MONTES!
MONTES ALPHA IN ARGENTINA
We recently visited Buenos Aires, Argentina,
where we participated in the re-launch of our
Montes Alpha wines on the Argentine market
alongside our importers Lutecia Americas S.A.
Benoit Berneron, General Manager, and his team
joined by our own Aurelio Montes and Andrés
Turner, General Manager of Montes, leading an
intensive tasting session.
We proudly hosted the inaugural activities of the
2010 World’s Best Sommelier Competition - held
in Santiago from April 12-15th. With open arms
and happy hearts our team welcomed 180 top
sommeliers from around the world to our
“La Finca de Apalta” winery. With much pride
we led a tour of our estate vineyards and the
steep slopes of the Apalta foothills (45 degrees)
where grapes are harvested for our icon wines.
After the tour, Chief Winemaker and President
Aurelio Montes led a tasting of Montes wines
and discussed soil types in the Apalta vineyards
with local terroir expert Pedro Parra. The visit
concluded with lunch on the winery’s
sunny terrace with a great view of the
sloping vineyards.
Head Oenologist Gustavo Hörmann will replace
Aurelio Montes del Campo in Chile, taking over
oenology management of the producers
Chimbarongo and Apalta. Gustavo, with 6 years
of exemplary service for Viña Montes, will work
under the supervision of Aurelio Montes
Baseden, President of Montes, continuing the
constant efforts to innovate and to further
increase quality that have been the cornerstone
of Montes’ success during recent years.
OUR CHERUB IN CHINESE
MOON FESTIVAL 2011
AURELIO MONTES DEL CAMPO
APPOINTED HEAD WINEMAKER
OF VIÑA KAIKEN
1: Owners of El Ca
tador, Guiseppe Bo
narelli and
Piero Bonarelli, wit
hag
2: Danilo Colón, Ile roup of sommeliers.
ana Reyes, Piero Bo
narelli,
Sonia Montanares
, and Victor Marte
.
MONTES ALPHA WINE TASTING
IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Our imports El Catador in the Dominican
Republic have organized a series of wine tasting
activities for our Montes Alpha and Kaiken
wines, well attended by experts, sommeliers, and
wine lovers. Of particular note was the “Wine
Dinner” held at the Babetto restaurant in the city
of Santiago, with Piero Bonnarelli, Commercial
Director, and Iliana Reyes, Head of Sales, as well
as a tasting aimed at sommeliers and attended
by Giuseppe Bonarelli, General Manager and
Piero Bonarelli, as well as Sonia Montanares and
Dennis Murray from Montes.
Aurelio Montes del Campo has joined the
Kaiken S.A. team on June 1 as head winemaker
and head oenologist in Mendoza. Gustavo
Hörmann will be taking over his former role in
Chile. With Aurelio on the team, Kaiken hopes
to further its current growth and, in the medium
term, to consolidate its position as the
counterpart of Montes among Argentine
wine producers – thus continuing its
participation in this significant market.
Aurelio holds a professional degree as
Agronomical Engineer specialised in fruit
growing and oenology, issued by the
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Before joining Viña Montes he worked at
Rosemount Estate (Australia), Cape
Mentelle (Australia), Franciscans (USA), and
for 6 years at Viña Ventisquero (Chile). His
passion for gaining the best possible
understanding of wine markets has led him
to travel around the world.
Thanks to our importer China Wine Platform Ltd.
for presenting our dear Montes Cherub wine in
the design of their Moon Festival card.The
Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th of the 8th
lunar month. Chinese culture is deeply imbedded
in traditional festivals. Just like Christmas and
Thanksgiving in the West, the Moon Festival is
one of the most important traditional events for
the Chinese. The Moon Festival is an occasion
for family reunions and also for special romantic
moments. A perfect night for the festival is a
quiet night without a silk of cloud and with a
little mild breeze from the sea. Lovers spend such
a romantic night together tasting the delicious
moon cake with a glass of wine while watching
the full moon... and Montes Cherub is a perfect
partner for this special night.
These courses are directed towards
bank employees in their headquarters in
Bogotá (a total of over 1,700 people) with
the aim of increasing their knowledge
and appreciation of the world of wine. We
took part with our Montes, Montes Alpha,
and Kaiken lines, attracting a great deal of
comment and appreciation.
c i a l D i re c t o r o f
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1: Bertrand Ove
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Bellows Internatio
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Montes stand.
Tasting in the cellar of the Vinoteca “El Bodegón”.
MONTES ALPHA
TASTING IN ECUADOR
MONTES IN THE CARIBBEAN
In the Virgin Islands, our importers Bellows
International Ltd., have conducted a number of
tasting sessions for Montes and Montes Alpha in
the landmark Wine Store Marina Market. They
also organized a major presentation of our wines
at the showing at The Marriott’s Frenchman’s
Reef Beach Resort.
Our importers in Ecuador, Arkrem
S.A., recently organized a number of events
in Guayaquil, at Vinoteca “Terrua” and
Vinoteca “El Bodegón”, with tastings of our
Montes Alpha wines for major clients.
1: Montes An
gel and Sergio
Altmann,
Commercial Ma
nager of Alpiste
S.A.
2: Montes Ange
l and Sonia Mon
tanares.
Wine Bar: Joining our host Juan José Medina, Sonia
Montanares, Bérnard Fougeres, a renowned wine
journalist and writer, María Lorena Menoscal, Sales
Manager of Arkrem S.A., and Juan José Medina
(Junior).
TASTING WITH JOURNALISTS
IN COSTA RICA
WINE COURSES IN COLOMBIA
It has been our honor to be involved in a number
of wine courses organized by our importers in
Colombia, Doblevía, in partnership with the
country’s largest bank, Grupo Bancolombia.
Organized by our importers in Costa
Rica, Alpiste S.A., the Restaurant & Lounge
Sepia and the Restaurant Le Chandelier
were the venues for a number of wine tasting
and wine-food combination events for
our Montes Alpha, Kaiken, and Napa
Angel wines, attended by a number
of journalists, sommelier schools and
association, and serious wine lovers.
Vinoteca “El Bod
egón”:
Juan José Medina
and son.
October 2010
THE “WORLD WINE TOUR
2010” IN MONTES
March 2011
COSTCO CHARITY WINNERS
VISIT MONTES
On 1 October we welcomed Anja Cheriakova
and Georges Janssens, who make up part of
“The World Wine Tour 2010”. They travelled for
a year collecting premium wines from different
wine growing regions of the world, before
auctioning the bottles in Hong Kong in April
2011, with proceeds going to providing medical
assistance and education for children living in
poverty in Laos. Montes did its part, donating a
Rosie Acevedo and her husband, Franklin, won
the Costco Charity Golf Classic auction whose
funds benefit of a non-profit organization that
raises funds for more than 170 children’s
hospitals. As winners they visited South America,
including Montes. We were delighted to have
received them and shown them our culture, fine
food and of course our dear Montes wines!
AN ANGELICAL VISIT FROM U.K.
We had the pleasure to be visited by one of our
Angels in the UK, Laura Sullivan –Montes’ Brand
Manager at PLB– who, despite of the wet and
cold Chilean winter weather in August, decided
to travel all the way to see us, even joining the
drive from Santiago over the Andes to Kaiken in
Mendoza, back and forth! That was a well
deserved BBQ!
bottle of Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon
and one of Montes Purple Angel. In the
photo: Georges Janssens, Dennis Murray
(Montes), and Anja Cheriakova. The bottles
collected during the World Wine Tour 2010
raised US$500,000.
April 30th, 2011
AN SPECIAL VISIT FROM D&L
LIQUORS, MASSACHUSETTS
NEW BRAND MANAGER
FOR MONTES IN U.S.A.
From USA we received Leah Dion, Manager of
D&L Liquors and her husband. We visited our
Apalta Winery and Marchigüe Estate, showing
them our ongoing harvest and tasting our lineup
of superb Montes wines! We are grateful for
being so well represented in Massachusetts!
Ginevra Altomara is the newly appointed Brand
Manager for Montes U.S.A. As Brand Manager
Ginevra Altomara will represent Montes, Kaiken
and Napa Angel and Star Angel wines. She will
educate, promote and represent all Montes
brands in the United States, from all three
countries. Montes wines are imported into the
United States through TGIC Importers, Inc. and
distributed nationally through various leading
distributors – in California through Titan Wines &
Spirits. She hails from New York City but is now
based in San Francisco, California. She is a
graduate of Hunter College CUNY. She is a
Certified Sommelier and CSW. Please join us in
welcoming her in her new position! She has a
great knowledge of the market as well a lovely
character and charm!
Find us on the Web!!
www.monteswines.com
facebook.com/monteswines
twitter.com/monteswines
January 2011
JENNIFER DOCHERTY,
MONTES 2011 MW
SCHOLARSHIP
WINNER, VISITS CHILE
On January 26th and 27th we spent the days with
Jennifer, visiting both Marchigüe and Apalta Estates
and showing her our beautiful Montes Apalta
winery, finishing with a tasting of Montes wines and
lunch at the Café Alfredo. As winner of the Montes
2011 MW Scholarship, she visited a selection of
Chilean wineries gaining knowledge of our culture,
food and wines. Thank you for visiting us!
MONTES S.A.
Av. Del Valle 945, Of 2611, Ciudad Empresarial,
Huechuraba, Santiago, Chile
Tel: 56-2-2484805, Fax: 56-2-2484790
e-mail: [email protected]
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