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MontGras
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| Wine Name: | Reserva |
| Winery: | MontGras |
| Varietal: | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Region: | Chile - Rapel - Colchagua Valley |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Price: | $15.45 (CDN) |
| Rating: | 86 (WS) |
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| Wine Notes: | Mineral and sanguine notes run through the dried currant and black cherry flavors in this Old World-style Cab. Smoke and cedar notes linger on the slightly firm finish. Drink now through 2003. 30,253 cases made. (Source: Wine Spectator, October 15, 2002). Viña MontGras is the brainchild of the Gras brothers, Hernan and Eduardo, and Christián Hartwig, brother of Alejandro Hartwig of the neighbouring Santa Laura winery (Alejandro’s ‘Laura Hartwig’ line of wines has appeared at Vintages in the recent past). For most wine consumers, Chile has been a source of easy drinking, inexpensive, fruity wines. However, today’s consumer demands more than ‘cheap and cheerful’. MontGras’ founders’ shared vision is to create a Chilean wine that gives a new definition to quality. For example, their grapes are all hand-picked and table-sorted to select the best fruit. Within the winery, Hernan Gras’ design ensures that all the juices are transferred by gravity-feed and do not have to be mechanically pumped from crusher/destemmer to fermenting tanks, or from fermenting tanks to cold storage containers. (A fascinating piece of trivia is that Hernan Gras was the winemaker for T.G. Bright in Niagara for many years). The whole winery is designed using the most modern of techniques. From the scientific analysis used to choose the vineyard locations, to the reshaping of the landscape to best assist the grapes’ growth; from the most current trellising methods, to the most up-to-date equipment, MontGras has spared no expense. MontGras stresses the differences in terroir and seeks to express them in all of their wines. As such, each wine is made from certain blocks within specific vineyards. In the case of their Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah (976787), all the grapes come from their San José Vineyards in the Colchagua Valley. The Cabernet Sauvignon is matured for 12 months in French and American oak while the Syrah is matured in stainless steel. Their thinking is that the Cabernet Sauvignon gives the body and structure to the wine, especially to the beginning and the end, while the unoaked, fruit-driven Syrah fills it out, especially in the centre. Though they plan to maintain their customer-friendly, hands-on style and accessible prices, Viña MontGras still continues to develop wines of increasing levels of quality and complexity. They now produce five levels of wine: their entry level Estate, their mid-range Reserva, their upper mid-range Quatro (their four grape Bordeaux blend), their premium ‘Limited Edition’ (see their Syrah, 977777) and their ultra premium Ninquén (pronounced ‘nin-ken’, meaning ‘plateau on a mountain’) from a unique high-elevation mountain vineyard. Viña MontGras’ combination of artisanal attitude and scientific approach will continue to redefine ‘Chilean wine’. (Source: Vintages, June 2003). |
| Size: | 750ml |
| Drink After: | 2003 |
| Drink Before: | 2004 |
| UPC code: | 7804407000068 |
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