Montes Taita

The Montes Taita is the estate's flagship — a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Marchigüe vineyard that shows what Chile's Colchagua Valley can achieve at a world-class level.

Montes is one of the pioneers of the Chilean quality wine movement. Since the early 1990s, the winery has focused on extreme yield reduction and precise hand-harvesting. In the Marchigüe vineyard, a maximum of 3 tons per hectare is permitted — which corresponds to about half of a normal yield. A dry winter with barely 200 mm of precipitation and a cool, cloudy March extended the ripening period by about 20 days and delivered exceptionally concentrated grapes.

In the cellar: spontaneous fermentation with natural yeasts after cold maceration, 10–12 days of skin contact. Then 24 months of aging in barriques, 70% of which are new — a classic Bordeaux protocol. On the nose, dark blackberry, cassis, cedarwood, and a hint of graphite. On the palate, dense, velvety tannin, carried by a fresh acid structure. Long finish with tobacco and dark chocolate.

Serving temperature 17–18 °C. Pairs with braised beef shoulder blade, leg of lamb with a herb crust, or aged Manchego.