Montes Folly 2020

Montes Folly 2020 is a remarkable wine from the Apalta Valley in Colchagua, Chile, a region celebrated for its premium red wines. The valley's granitic soils, rich in eroded rock with low clay content and excellent drainage, create ideal conditions for growing high-quality grapes. The steep slopes of the Finca de Apalta estate, where this wine is cultivated, contribute to the distinctive character and concentration of Montes Folly.

This wine is made exclusively from Syrah, a grape variety known for its bold flavours and complexity. The Syrah vines thrive on the estate's challenging hillsides, yielding small, intensely flavoured grapes. Montes Folly is a full-bodied wine, renowned for its rich concentration, balance, and age-worthiness.

The 2020 harvest was marked by low yields due to dry conditions, enhancing the concentration of aromas and flavours. Grapes were meticulously hand-harvested and underwent careful selection to ensure only the finest fruit was used. After a cool maceration period of 5–7 days, fermentation occurred over 12–15 days at controlled temperatures. The wine was aged for 14–18 months in French oak barrels, 70% of which were new, imparting complexity and smoothness.

Montes Folly 2020 presents an intense carmine-red colour with violet hues at the rim. The nose offers a medley of ripe red and blue fruits, including blueberry, blackberry, cherry, and black plum, complemented by cookie notes, sweet spices like nutmeg and vanilla, and hints of leather, dark chocolate, and toast from barrel ageing. On the palate, it is beautifully balanced, with velvety tannins and a long, lingering finish featuring subtle dairy flavours that enhance the wine's richness.

This Syrah pairs exceptionally well with red meats, lamb, veal, and pork chops. Decant for at least one hour to allow the wine to reveal its full complexity, and serve at 17–19°C.