I cannot write about the beautiful Colchagua wine region without first mentioning our accommodations. Posada Colchagua is a cozy inn located in the Isla de Yaquil, between the city of Santa Cruz and several large Colchagua wineries, including Montes.
As well as providing a Chilean-style breakfast each morning and a complimentary bottle of wine on our first night, the inn's owner helped plan visits to the local wineries and answered our questions about the area - this is extremely helpful, especially for guests whose Spanish-speaking skills could use some work.
We visited Viña MontGras, which is a winery that works with Carmenere blends as well as stand-alone Reserva varietals. Our host started the tour by showing us a circular stone patio which featured an image of the sun engraved in the center. The sun, he explained, is the winery's symbol because it carries the most responsibility for creating a good grape, and thus, a good wine.
He went on to explain that if you stood on the center of the sun facing towards the overhanging vines, you would hear an echo when you spoke. It was true! Each member of our group was asked to experience it for themselves before we moved on to the tour and tasting.
After touring the MontGras sample vines, we headed into the tasting room for a wine and hors d'oeuvre pairing. The first pour was the 2011 MontGras Reserva Chardonnay paired with cheese on a cracker, drizzled with honey. 40% of the grapes were oaked for 4 months before bottling, while 60% remained in the tank. The wine was a dry white with a strong pineapple flavor.
Next, the 2010 MontGras Reserva Merlot was paired with a bacon-wrapped prune, a sweet and salty combination that complemented the smooth berry notes of the wine. The 2011 Chardonnay and 2010 Merlot are not yet available in the United States but keep checking back - it's worth the wait.
Finally, the varietal Chile is known for was presented in the 2010 MontGras Reserva Carmenere. Our host explained that Carmeneres usually spend less time in oak in order to preserve the unique identity of the varietal. The wine was paired with chorizo, enhancing the already spicy, pepper notes of this particular bottle. This vintage is readily available in the United States, starting around $9.
