Description
VINEYARDS
The vineyards that produce the grapes for our Montes Alpha Malbec are located in our Apalta and Marchigüe estates in the Colchagua Valley. Both properties have soils of granitic origin with different degrees of decomposition and varying depths and amounts of clay and organic matter. The Apalta estate soils are very mixed, with some parcels strongly influenced by the nearby Tinguiririca River, while others exhibit material brought down from long-term geological erosion of the mountain above. The soils tend to be deep in the flatter areas and thinner at the foot of the mountain and in the upper sectors. The Malbec vines are located in moderately-sloping areas, where the soils are of medium depth, have low moisture retention, and contain materials of fluvial origin.
The Marchigüe estate is flatter, with low hills and moderate slopes. The soils are shallow—in some cases no more than 60 cm deep – with medium clay content and a high capacity for water retention. The Malbec vineyards are located in the flat areas that contain a high percentage of rounded stones (fluvial material) and are poor in clay.
Our Montes Alpha Malbec contains equal proportions of fruit from our Finca de Apalta and Marchigüe estates.
TECHNICAL SHEET
Denomination of Origin: Colchagua Valley, Chile.
Vine selection: Clones 46, 43, 180, and others.
Filtering: Cartridge filtered prior to bottling.
Vineyard yields: 7 tons per hectare (2.8 tons/acre).
Grape varieties: 95% Malbec, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Barrel ageing: 50% of the wine spent 12 months in first, second, and third-use French oak barrels.
BASIC ANALYSIS
Alcohol 14.5%
pH 3.56
Total Acidity (H2SO4) 3.50 g/L
Volatile Acidity (C2H4O2) 0.49 g/L
Residual Sugar 2.68 g/L
Free SO2 0.024 g/L
SUGGESTIONS
Cellaring recommendations: This wine can be enjoyed now or laid down for up to 10 years.
Recommended serving temperature: 17°-19°C (62°-66°F).
Decanting: Recommended for at least 30 minutes.
Acey (verified owner) –