Gewürztraminer Late Harvest Curicó Valley 2020 – Montes Alpha (375ml)

To produce the Gewürztraminer Late Harvest Curicó Valley Montes Alpha, fruit was harvested by hand before being directly pressed as whole clusters. The juice was cold settled for 24 hours before fermentation occurred in stainless steel tanks to preserve the delicate varietal aromas and aromatics. Fermentation took place at 14ºC until the tanks reached approximately 150 grams per litre of residual sugar, and alcohol levels around 12%. The ferment was then stopped using low temperature control measures and the yeast decanted before the wine was stabilised and filtered prior to bottling.

The Gewürztraminer grapes for the Late Harvest blend were sourced entirely from the Curicó Valley. The soils are deep, former riverbeds, with a large amount of organic matter, and moderate capacity for moisture retention. Curicó’s Mediterranean climate is a result of the vines being shielded from the Pacific Ocean by the Coastal Range. Fruit from here is riper in comparison to the cooler climate regions in Chile, but is still able to retain freshness due to cool nights. The vineyards that produce the grapes for this wine are quite humid due to the proximity of the Lontué River and is quite overcast mid-May onwards, which is very favourable for the growth of botrytis on the fruit.

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. Since then, Alpha has developed to become the core range in the Montes portfolio. The grapes and sites are carefully selected in order to ensure varietal integrity and complexity. Viticulture is hands on rather than mechanical or industrial.