2001 Montes Cabernet Sauvignon "Reserve"

[Drew]

Here's a rating for the 2002 Chile vintage and I found where Wine Enthusiast rated the vintage an 86.

Rating: 7/10 - drink or keep

The weather was ideal for grapes right through to the end of summer and early autumn. At this time the rain arrived and caused a lot of dilution problems for growers in the Rapel, Maule and Curicó Valleys. The growers had to choose - do they pick before rot sets in or wait to allow the grapes to ripen. For those that waited the rains did desist and afterwards there was hot, sunny weather and these growers managed to produce some good wines, although they had to be extremely selective when picking.

The other regions fared better and made good wines. Aconcagua Valley missed out on the perverse weather and experienced a normal season and the wines are of very good quality. The Casablanca and Maipo Valleys saw less morning fog than usual and so ripening was faster in these regions which meant they could pick before any serious rot set in.

Drew

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited 09-15-2005).]