Wine of the Week!     

Montes "Alpha" Apalta Vineyard Coluchagua 2006 Merlot   $17     

This week’s wine of the week is a Merlot.  It’s rich and expressive and well suited for any occasion when a glass of red is the call: Montes “Alpha” 2005 Merlot from Chile. 

Too many Merlot are just overly fruity and jammy and not interesting but not the Montes! It’s from their Apalta Vineyard with warm days of sunshine and cooling nighttime mountain influences which tease the grapes into ripeness and gives us a wine with layers of flavors.

It’s got inky dark fruitiness reminding me of blackberries, or even dried cherries… along with a licorice-like kick. It finishes slowly without the tight grip of tannins… Making is perfectly ready to drink right now and it’s pretty complex and sophisticated for seventeen dollars a bottle - and about as food friendly as it gets, matching as easily with a steak as with some roasted chicken.

The wine of the week - Montes Alpha 2005 Merlot.

Pop the Cork™

Wine on the Radio – July 18, 2008

Winemaker’s Notes and Comments:
Handsome ruby-red color. Outstanding fruit, with a noseful of red berries, black cherry, black pepper, hints of tobacco. These elements come through on the palate, revealing a full-bodied wine. In mid palate is round and velvety with an added touch of vanilla and toast, followed by a long and smooth finish. Very, very elegant. WINE SPECTATOR selected it as both TOP-SCORING Merlots around the world and also one of the Best Values in Merlot.

Past Recommendations, Picks, and Wines of the Week

Notes on our Wines of the Week, Recommendations, and Picks:

When you read our thoughts, please remember that you may think differently.  A particular wine may be your favorite and not on our list.  Well, don't stop buying it because of that.  In fact, you may want to email us and let us know about it. These are our opinions but our FIRST recommendation is to go by your own palate.

A couple of other thoughts . . . first, prices are approximate.  They'll vary.  Second, different vintages mean different grapes and different tastes so our recommendation for a 2000 Merlot may not hold for 2001.

And lastly, we remind you to drink responsibly!  Now, all that said, here is a summary of links to our suggestions.  Find one (or more) and pop the cork!

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