Wine Reviews

There’s a cocoa bean and vanilla base to the concentrated blackberry core in this ripe version, which takes on decadent spiced pastry and dark chocolate qualities while unfurling around smooth tannins and a late push of kirsch.

Opening with a dark-fruited, chocolate and tobacco-tinged bouquet that gradually reveals a floral side as it sits in the glass, the 2021 Muse Cabernet Sauvignon is suave and seamless on the palate. It concludes with a sleek, creamy and manicured finish of refined tannins and a gentle core of lifted acidity that frames a sweet, red-fruited core.

Montes selects premier locations for its red wines. For this Cabernet the winemaker sourced grapes from the Alto Maipo Valley and aged the wines for several months in oak barrels. Oak spice marks the character of this red. There is also depth and a velvety texture, with good acidity lifting cinnamon, clove, ripe blackberries and chocolate.

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Muse is one of the most refined and delicate Cabernets from Maipo in this cold vintage. Sourced from Buin, it reaches a stylistic peak in this edition. Comprising 95% Cabernet, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 2.5% Cabernet Franc, it aged for 18 months in French oak barrels (70% new). This purplish wine unfolds enticing aromas of blackberry, cassis, cherry and ash, underscored by notes of licorice and cedar. Dry and faintly plush, with vibrant fine-grained tannins, the juicy flow and cushioned mouthfeel lead to a long and rewarding finish. This is a virtuous combination of technique and vintage

Muse is a voluptuous cabernet offering aromas of rich, ripe fruit, blackberries, mussel shells, dried rose petals, dark chocolate and hints of incense and dark truffles. Bold in flavors, it’s generous, friendly and high quality, with masses of fine-grained tannins.