Montes Classic Series Malbec 2022

It's not every day you come across a Malbec from this side of the Andes, but this example from Viña Montes more than holds its own against its better known Argentinian cousins. Sourced from nearly century-old vines, it delivers classic black fruit and a touch of spice on the nose. The palate is just as inviting, with juicy blueberry flavours and a whisper of vanilla thanks to 8 months in French oak. Smooth, balanced, and effortlessly enjoyable, it's a good example of what Chilean Malbec can do - and a wine every bit as distinctive as its heritage suggests..

Sticky barbecue ribs or a juicy ribeye are spot on here - the smoky flavours play perfectly with its black fruit and spice, and that lingering, savoury finish is just lovely.

Viña Montes began in 1987 as a partnership between Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, two pillars of the Chilean wine industry. They were convinced that Chile has the capability to produce wine of a quality to match anywhere else in the world and they set out to put this into practice. Douglas Murray died in 2010 but Aurelio has continued to develop and grow the business. Through the 1990's they focussed on the Apalta region of the Colchagua valley, where their winery is to be found near the town of Santa Cruz about 2 hours south of Chile's capital Santiago. And while much of their fame can be ascribed to their iconic wines, among them Montes Alpha 'M', Montes Folly and Purple Angel, they also produce many more wines ranging from excellent and good value entry level varietals right up to some of the most expensive and highly regarded wines Chile has to offer.