Chilean Wine Tasting at the Edge Restaurant at the Four Seasons on Brickell

“his lips drink water
but his heart drinks wine”
― E.E. Cummings

Chile and Argentina are putting out some of the best values in the fine wine world today and we have dedicated this month to bring them to you.  Chile seems to have the most promise along with Argentina in terms of very high quality wines and just like Argentina has Malbec to thank for the countries best wines Chile has another long lost Bordeaux varietal, Carmeniere that they now call their own.

Although Carmenere is not as well known as Malbec it seems to be finally getting some recognition, the wine of the year in the Wine Spectator for 2008 was Clos Apalta by Casa Lapostolle and this wine is predominantly made with Carmenere.   I visited this winery and have to say that it is one of the most impressive winemaking facilities that I have ever seen.  Another one of the iconic wines of Chile is Aurelio Montes "M".  This wine is a Bordeaux inspired blend that is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon and was the first high end iconic wine released from Chile and has been produced since the 1996 vintage.

The value end of the wine industry is what Chile is best known for but today they are starting to put together some excellent quality wines and can compete with the best made anywhere in the world.  Try The Pinot Noirs from the Bio Bio Valey, a Sauvignon Blanc from the San Antonio Valley or the Carmenere from the Colchagua Valley.  There is quality wine everywhere in Chile today for you to discover.

We have been looking for a partner to host our wine tasting events with for a long time in Miami and it looks like we have found a perfect fit with the Edge Steak + Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel on Brickell in downtown Miami.

Check out the listing of events posted through the end of the year at the Edge Steak + Bar, we will be here every other Tuesday night for a unique and different wine tasting event.

Chef Aaron Brooks will be sending out a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines. The fee for this event is $35 + tax. For reservations call 305-358-3535 or e-mail: maria.torres@fourseasons.com.

Valet Service at the hotel is $9 for three hours.

Chilean Wine Tasting at the Edge Restaurant at the Four Seasons on Brickell
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
7:00 PM

Tasting Line-Up:

2010 Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc Zapallar Vineyard Zapallar
Price: $33.00       Sale $29.04          Case $337

A beautifully intense, fresh, light and lively wine, overflowing with aromas of passion fruit and hints of lime. The wine is mouth-filling, mineral, with vibrant fruit and fantastic mid-palate richness and weight.

An elegant Sauvignon Blanc wine finishing rich with  a sharp acidity, nice balance and excellent length and crispness

2010 Montes Alpha Chardonnay Casablanca
Price: $21.00       Sale $18.48          Case $214

Vinified with clean must separating three different lots using three different strains of selected yeasts: D’, Montrachet and native.

Fermented and aged in French oak barrels for 1 year, 40% of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation.

Grapes sourced from Casablanca Valley. The wine remains in its original cask for one year using a monthly batonage to enhance buttery flavors and complexity that emphasizes the union of refined flavors of tropical fruit and aromas.

2011 Montes Cherub Rose of Syrah, Colchagua
Price: $15.75       Sale $13.86          Case $160.50

A fresh, young fruity wine with some spiciness and hints of red berries, Montes Cherub is seductive, elegant and dry.  It has a bright intense pink color. Both on the nose and palate, this Rosé has a distinct Syrah character with some spiciness and hints of strawberries and lively floral flavors—mainly roses as well as orange peel. With good fruit concentration it shows richness in texture across the palate that leads to a delightfully long finish. This is a fresh, young fruity wine. Montes Cherub Rosé of Syrah was also featured on the Today Show.

2011 Montes Twins (Malbec/Cab Sauv), Colchagua
Price: $14.75       Sale $12.98          Case $150

Meet the twins: a masterstroke of varietal blending from Chile’s winemaking legend, Aurelio Montes.

On their own, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon shine, but when paired up, these two classic varieties complement each other perfectly.

It’s a sensational double bill: wonderful richness, structure and fruit from the Cabernet, with smooth, velvety texture from the Malbec—adding up to a wine that’s greater than the sum of its parts while the oak aging contributes with subtle notes of vanilla and liqueur and its soft tannins provide an specially elegant finish.

2010 Montes Alpha Carmenere Colchagua
Price: $21.00       Sale $18.48          Case $214

Deep and live ruby red color. The wine has a very elegant and evident Carmenère tipicity, showing lovely black pepper aromas with hints of red berries, chocolate, a bit of vanilla and black plums. In the mouth is distinctively smooth, with rounded and soft tannins. Long finish. The oak is beautifully integrated and balanced.

2009 Santa Ema Amplus One (Carmenere-Syrah-Carignan), Peumo, Cachapoal
Price: $22.50       Sale $19.80          Case $230

A blend of 75% Carmenère, 20% Syrah, 5% Carignan.  Deep violet to ruby-red in color, this wine is expressive and long, recalling red and black cherries, prunes and a touch of tobacco and pencil shavings. On the palate, it is well-structured and powerful, with well-rounded tannins that lead to a voluminous and seductive finish.

2010 Outer Limits CGM (Carignan-Grenache-Mouvedre), Apalta, Colchagua – new!
Price: $63.00       Sale $55.44          Case $643

A blend of 50% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Mourèvdre.  This wine has a generous bright ruby red color. The aroma suggests blackberries, dry fig, light reminiscences of cinnamon and an elegant spiciness given by the light toast of the French oak barrels. It has a well balanced freshness with an adequate level of acidity that makes that wine linger with elegance.

2009 Montes Alpha M Colchagua (Bordeaux blend)
Price: $90.00       Sale $79.20          Case $918

A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot.  Distinguished red fruit, cassis, cedar and a touch of cinnamon, Montes Alpha M is a harmonious balance of fruit and oak.

Menu

Avocado Terrine
tomato, crab, salsa criolla

Pastel de Choclo
creekstone farms  skirt steak, sweet corn spoon bread , golden raisins and green olives

A bit about Montes winey:

The first activities at Montes began in 1987 when two partners with great illusions, Aurelio Montes and Douglas Murray, both holding long-standing experience in the wine industry, were certain Chile could improve on the quality it was producing at the time. It seemed as if the large and medium-scale vineyards were satisfied with limiting their distribution to local supermarkets. They certainly knew how to produce premium wines, but didn’t feel up to it, they were satisfied with the niche markets they had attained, which was certainly broad, although small. In 1988, another two original partners joined in, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand, each providing their qualified, complimentary views, and thus, Viña Montes was formally born, initially under the name Discover Wine Ltda., a saga that has made Chile internationally known in 75 countries worldwide while providing extensive recognition and acclaim.

The first Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, the premium wine that gave this winery its initial fame, was and still is a very different wine to what was then in vogue. Concentrated, complex and solemn, it was an immediate success and proved they had chosen the adequate niche: quality! Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 1987, became the first ever premium Chilean export wine and it opened for Montes and for Chile, a path other wineries quickly followed. Other wines followed the Montes Alpha range: a Chardonnay, Merlot and a Syrah. They have preferred to maintain the Montes Alpha line concentrated exclusively on these four wines which “jointly” represent the highest premium brand exported in its category, these are wines geared towards specialized wine stores, restaurants and hotels: a niche that leaves a mark and provides reputation.

Montes had its mindset to create better Chilean wines, an obsession. Montes then, lead the way venturing into the Apalta Valley and mountain slope plantations. Montes constantly sought quality, and became again a pioneer in Syrah plantations in Colchagua.  Results surged faster than expected: the first ultra-premium (super-Chilean or icon) wine, the Montes Alpha “M” 1996 (a classic Bordeaux) was followed by another which has become a cult-wine, the Montes Folly 2000 (minimum production of 100% Syrah), and finally the first Chilean Carménère (over 75%) launched in May, 2005 and Purple Angel (Carménère 92%). Each and everyone became an immediate success for the specialized press and for Montes loyal consumers.  Montes` blessing has been the achievement of everything they set out to do. In 2005, they became the fifth Chilean bottled wine exporter; they achieved this on their own without seeking joint ventures or foreign consultancies of any kind, as has been the case of other wineries in the “highest category”.  The folks at Montes are proud to state that Montes has been extremely successful and that this has been the result of a group made up by Chileans, 100%, and the result of their own hard work.

Montes has provided Chile with enormous gratification and has objectively become the bench marker for the majority of new Chilean vineyards. This status, as well as the achievement of concentrating on quality has been one of their  major contribution to the Chilean wine industry.  When Montes began (as Discover Wine Ltda.) there were only fourteen wines exporting vineyards in Chile, today the Chilean central bank has over two hundred registered wine exporters.

Other Montes wines in Stock:

2006 Montes Alpha Syrah Colchagua Valley Chile
Price: $23.75
Quantity in Stock: 1

Wine Watch Review: Very pretty nose ripe and seductive black plum violet floral notes and just a note of game and animal, the focus here is on the ripe fruit and perfume floral notes. Smooth and silky tannins lots of juicy fruit here on the tongue with exotic spices and a long complex finish. Finish 40+ EXCELLENT+

2005 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile
Price: $21.75       Sale $19.14
Quantity in Stock: 3        

(89 Points) The 2005 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon has considerably more weight than the Merlot. The fruit is darker with a quality nose of cedar, leather, espresso, and black currants. The wine’s texture is supple and there is enough tannin to support 2-3 years of cellaring. This well-made Cabernet can be enjoyed through 2020. Wine Advocate # 171 Jun 2007

2006 Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Chile
Price: $24.75
Quantity in Stock: 2

(90 Points) The 2006 Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon has 10% Merlot in its blend. It received the identical barrel/tank regimen. Purple-colored, it exhibits aromas of cedar, spice box, tobacco, black currant, and blackberry. Layered yet elegant, it has enough structure to evolve for 2-3 years. Balanced and lengthy, it should drink well from 2009 to 2016.

Under the enlightened leadership of Aurelio Montes, the Montes winery remains one of the standard-bearers for Chilean wines. The Carmenere-based Purple Angel is one of the two or three best of its type; the Folly is arguably Chile’s finest Syrah, and the Montes Alpha M one of the Cabernet-based icons Wine Advocate # 179 Oct 2008

2009 Montes Alpha Carmenere Chile
Price: $21.75       Sale $19.14
Quantity in Stock: 17

(91 points) The 2009 Alpha Carmenere contains 10% Cabernet Sauvignon in its makeup. The fruit was sourced from a cool micro-climate near the Pacific Ocean which provides the long growing season Carmenere seems to require. It was aged for 12 months in a mix of new and used French oak before bottling without filtration. It offers up a brooding bouquet of wood smoke, herbs, spices, incense, violets, and assorted black fruits. This is followed by a rich, savory, incipiently complex wine that will benefit from another 2-3 years of bottle age. Drink this tasty effort from 2013 to 2021. eRobertParker.com #199, Feb 2012

2009 Montes Cabernet Carmenere Colchagua Valley Alpha Marchigue Vineyard
Price: $21.75       Sale $19.14
Quantity in Stock: 12

(88 points) Dark and roasted, with lots of espresso, tobacco and bittersweet cocoa flavors layered with plum sauce and black currant notes. Sage and espresso linger through the finish. For fans of the heftier style. Drink now through 2012. 2,600 cases imported. –JM, Issue: Nov 15, 2011