Author: Dirk Chan
Our online feature this week is the MontGras Antu Ninquen Syrah (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $16.99, regularly $21.49.
The brainchild of brothers Hernan and Eduardo Gras, and partner Cristian Hartwig, MontGras Winery opened in 1993. Using state-of-the-art technology, the award-winning winery is best known for its full-bodied syrah, malbec, carmenere, and cabernet sauvignon wines.
Producing wines in a sustainable way has always been a priority for MontGras. Since 2011, Viña MontGras has been certified under the Sustainable Code of Viñas de Chile and since 2021 Viña MontGras certifies 100% of its portfolio as vegan.
The class of wines called Ninquén (nin-ken), meaning ‘Plateau on a Mountain’, established in 1998, is one of the first mountainside vineyards in Chile – previously valley floors were chosen for ease of farming and to achieve high yields. A broad selection of varieties are planted here, led by Syrah.
Our feature this week, their Antu Ninquen Syrah is a ripe, juicy style of red, with lots of blackberry, briar and sweet spice notes that push through the medium-weight, nicely structured finish, where black tea and fruit echo. Sourced from a high elevation vineyard, was bottled without fining or filtration. Purple-colored, the nose offers up cedar, wood smoke, scorched earth, and blueberry aromas that jump from the glass. On the palate, it has attractive, savory flavors.
MontGras Antu Ninquen Syrah (Colchagua Valley, Chile) – $16.99, regularly $21.49