2016 Montes Folly Colchagua Valley La Finca De Apalta Syrah

About the Wine

What began as a retirement project for two businessmen, became one of the most important wineries in all of Chile.

Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray began this adventure in 1987 when they dreamed of producing high-quality wine and dedicating their time, passion, and love to a retirement project. In 1988 Aldredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand joined the project and Viña Montes was born.

Viña Montes took a 180-degree turn and went from being a hobby to a life project. The wine gained great recognition thanks to its quality and how different it was compared to the wine that existed in Chile at that time. In 1987, they began to export wines outside of Chile, changing the perception that wine consumers in the world had of Chilean wine.

The Apalta Valley is a dream. It is home to some of the most emblematic and renowned wines in the Country. Thanks to its Mediterranean climate, its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, and its alluvial soils, the Apalta Valley is a paradise for the production of premium wines. It is especially ideal for red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, and Syrah.

Aurelio Montes was one of the first producers to appreciate the great potential that the Apalta terroir had to offer. “When I visited Apalta at 21, it was love at first sight and I was obsessed with those slopes. I noticed that there was a diamond in the rough,” says Aurelio.

2016 Montes Folly Colchagua Valley La Finca De Apalta Syrah, is one of the iconic labels of Viña Montes. A powerful wine, full of aromas and flavors. Made with special care since the vineyard to the cellar. Montes delivers one of the best Chilean wines that you will ever taste!

In addition to producing exquisite wines, Viña Montes is committed to the environment. Since 2011, this winery obtained the Certification of the National Sustainability Code within the vineyard and winery.

Montes Alpha also has an architecture to admire and a great touristic offer. In 2020, it was featured on William Reed Business Media's “The World’s Best Vineyards to Visit” list.

Tasting Notes

100% Syrah. Intense nose. Aromas of red and black fruits, spices, pastry, and subtle notes of leather. On the palate, exceptionally well balanced with a potent yet elegant structure. The tannins are very nicely rounded and smooth, and the flavors echo the aromatic complexity. This wine pairs lovely with red meats, lamb, veal, and pork chops.

Critical Reviews

Incredibly complex with sweet-tobacco, iron, blackberry, black-olive and dried-strawberry aromas. Full body, ultra-refined tannins, and a rich finish. Harvested before the rains. Juicy tannins. Very structured and big style, but shows balance. Drink or hold. ~96 James Suckling.

Folly is based on a vineyard planted in 1995 on a very steep slope in the hills of Apalta, in the Colchagua Valley. His first vintage was in 1999 and since then he has cultivated a broad, warm-weather style. The steeply sloping vineyard further reduces yields (there is less soil, less fertility there) and Apalta's sun does the rest. The wine has 15.5 degrees of alcohol but it is impressive how that heat is not felt. And everything is due to intense, imposing tannins, which are responsible here to sustain all that enormous weight of concentration and warmth. In the end, the wine feels balanced, and has some freshness. ~95 Descorchados. 

Very plush, with explosively rich and intense flavors of dark cherry, Christmas pudding, and blackberry that are filled with Asian spice notes. Dark chocolate and white pepper accents linger on the luscious finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2025. ~94 Wine Spectator.

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