Montes was established in 1988 by Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, with the aim of producing the best wines in Chile from the best regions. The Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, first produced in 1987, broke the mould for premium wines in Chile and since then the Alpha range of wines has developed to become the core range in the Montes portfolio. All the grapes and sites are carefully selected in order to ensure varietal integrity and complexity in the wines. The vineyards that produce the grapes for the Montes Alpha Merlot are all located in the Colchagua Valley region of Chile. After malolactic fermentation is completed, 55% of the final blend was aged in French oak barrels (25% new, the rest second and third fill) for 12 months to add complexity and roundness to the wine.The Montes Alpha Merlot is deep ruby red in colour. On the nose, there are pronounced aromas of fresh red berries and plums while the oak ageing adds subtle layers of vanilla, toffee and nutty notes. This is a well-structured wine with smooth, round tannins and balanced freshness