Montes "Folly" Syrah 2012
(Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile) - [JS 97] [WS 93] [VM 93] [WE 93]

2011 Vintage - Ranked #4 on the Top 100 Wines of 2015 - James Suckling

About the Winery:
Montes is the maker of Alpha M, Folly, Purple Angel and more; this winery BEAT Opus One, First Growth Bordeaux Haut-Brion, Chateau Montelena and Sassicaia in Blind Tastings!

 

Notes from the Winemaker:
The 2011–2012 season presented very scant rain due to the “La Niña” phenomenon. The spring was very cold but frost-free, which was perfect for optimal foliage growth, flowering, fruit set, and cluster definition. The summer was dry and clear, without the cold and cloudy days of the previous season.

Terroir:
The grapes for Montes Folly grow on the steepest hillsides of our Finca de Apalta, where the vines have best adapted. There they reach a good balance between vegetative expression and crop load, resulting in low yields with highly concentrated grapes. This year’s grapes were leisurely picked between March 27 and April 23.

Tasting Notes

Montes Folly is a deep purplish ruby red in color. Aromatically it is very complex and potent without losing elegance. Ripe red and blue berries predominate on the nose with a seductive pastry note. 18 months in new French oak barrels lend interesting notes of coffee, chocolate, and very well-integrated toast that allows the fruit to be perceived in a colossal way. The palate reaffirms the aromatic sensations with light notes of dairy and nutmeg. Well balanced with very round tannins, tremendous structure, and a very long finish.

Technical Information

 

Filtering: Unfiltered.
Vineyard Yield: Approximately 3 tons per hectare (1.5 ton/acre).
Grape Variety: 100% Syrah.
Oak Aging: 18 months in new French oak barrels.
Alcohol 15.8º
Total Acidity (H2SO4) 3.80 g/lt.
Residual Sugar 3.38 g/lt.
pH 3.52

97 Points - James Suckling:
"Incredible wine with blackberry, dried meat, granite, spice, and blueberry character. Full body, super velvety texture, yet incredibly fine and long. Such finesse and balance. Clearly the benchmark for syrah in South America. So gorgeous to drink now but will age beautifully." (May 12th, 2016)

93 Points - Wine Spectator Magazine:
"Deeply flavored, rich and intense, with concentrated flavors of dark plum, raspberry, blackberry and chocolate mousse. Well-structured, featuring a long finish that oozes Asian spice and notes of hot stone and white pepper. 500 cases imported." - KM (Feb 29, 2016)

93 Points - Vinous Media:
"Opaque ruby. Heady, oak-spiced blackberry, cherry-vanilla, violet and incense scents show excellent clarity and a hint of smokiness. Supple and broad on the palate, offering deeply concentrated dark berry preserve, vanilla and floral pastille flavors and a suggestion of mocha. Closes with powerful spicy thrust, an echo of juicy blue fruit and velvety tannins that come in late. This flamboyant wine reminded me quite a bit of a high-end Barossa Shiraz." - Josh Raynolds (Feb 2017)

93 Points & Cellar Selection - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"One of Chile's ripest, most full-bodied Syrahs needs more time to fully strut its stuff. Aromas of graphite and coconut are prominent on a lush, boldly fruited bouquet. A highly concentrated palate allows for deep digging, while flavors of blackberry, black plum and raw oak turn savory and spicy as this breathes. An inky, powerful finish is appropriate." - MS (6/1/2016)