Montes Malbec

Montes Malbec is a Chilean red wine blending 95% Malbec with 5% Cabernet Sauvignon at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml bottle. The 2021 vintage earned 93 points from James Suckling, reinforcing Montes' reputation for delivering structured, elegant reds from the Colchagua Valley at accessible price points.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile  |  Blend: 95% Malbec / 5% Cabernet Sauvignon  |  Producer: Montes

Production & Heritage

Montes was founded in 1988 by four Chilean wine industry veterans — Aurelio Montes Sr., Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre, and Pedro Grand — with a mission to prove Chile could produce world-class wines. The Malbec draws fruit from two distinct estates in Colchagua Valley: Apalta and Marchigüe, each with granitic soils at different stages of decomposition, contributing layers of mineral complexity. Grapes are hand-harvested, and roughly 50% of the wine is aged for 12 months in a combination of first-, second-, and third-use French oak barrels, allowing fruit purity to share the stage with measured oak influence rather than being overwhelmed by it.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe blackberry and plum dominate the nose, followed by cassis and black pepper. Beneath the fruit, subtler layers of vanilla, fresh herbs, damp earth, and a faint struck-match minerality emerge with air.

Taste: The entry is juicy and fruit-forward, with sour cherry and blue fruit leading into a mid-palate laced with herbs and gentle spice. Tannins are firm but silky, giving the wine a structured spine without astringency, while a thread of olive and leather adds savory depth toward the finish.

Finish: Noticeably long and sappy, with dark fruit and fine-grained tannins that linger. A touch of fresh herbaceousness keeps the close vibrant and clean.

How to Drink Montes Malbec

Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) in a large-bowled glass to let the aromatics open fully; a brief 20-minute decant helps soften the tannins on younger vintages. This Malbec's fruit density and balanced acidity make it a versatile food wine, though it also holds up well on its own.

Best For

• Weeknight dinners that call for a step above everyday table wine
• Gifting a friend exploring South American reds
• Grilled steak or lamb cookouts where a bold but polished red is needed
• Building a Chilean wine collection with critically recognized bottles

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Montes Malbec taste like? It leads with juicy blackberry, plum, and sour cherry fruit, layered with black pepper, herbs, and a savory olive-and-leather undertone. Silky tannins and a long, sappy finish give it both elegance and structure.

How does Montes Malbec compare to Kaiken Malbec? Kaiken Malbec, produced in Argentina, tends to be more expressive on the nose with spicier black fruit and a juicier, more forward personality. Montes Malbec is generally more austere and elegant, with bigger tannins and higher acidity — a contrast directly noted by Aurelio Montes Jr. himself.

Is Montes Malbec good for sipping on its own? Yes — its balance of ripe fruit, firm tannins, and underlying minerality makes it enjoyable without food, especially after a short decant to let the aromatics fully develop.

Where is Montes Malbec made? It is produced by Montes winery in Chile's Colchagua Valley, with grapes sourced from the Apalta and Marchigüe estates, both known for their granitic soils at varying decomposition stages.

What foods pair well with Montes Malbec? Grilled ribeye steak complements the wine's dark fruit and tannin structure. Slow-braised lamb shanks echo its herbaceous and earthy notes. Aged cheddar or Manchego highlight the savory, leathery character. Empanadas with seasoned beef mirror the wine's spice, and mushroom risotto pairs naturally with its earthy undertones.

What sizes does Montes Malbec come in? The standard release is available in a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely distributed format.

Is Montes Malbec worth the price? It positions firmly in the value-to-mid-premium tier, delivering 93-point quality (James Suckling, 2021 vintage) and French oak aging at a price that significantly undercuts many similarly scored Malbecs from Argentina and beyond.

Why Montes Malbec?

Chilean Malbec rarely earns the same spotlight as its Argentine counterpart, which makes the 93-point score from James Suckling all the more noteworthy — it signals that Montes is producing Malbec that genuinely competes across borders. The dual-estate sourcing from Apalta and Marchigüe, with their distinct granitic soil profiles, gives the wine a mineral complexity that single-source bottlings often lack. The restrained oak program — only 50% of the blend sees barrel, and across multiple-use French oak — preserves the varietal's fruit integrity while adding measured spice and vanilla. For anyone exploring Malbec beyond Mendoza, this bottle makes a compelling case for Colchagua Valley.