Montes Alpha Chardonnay (75cl, 14%)

A 100% Chardonnay from Chile's Casablanca Valley, produced by Montes Wines, founded in 1988 by Aurelio Montes, Douglas Murray, Alfredo Vidaurre and Pedro Grand. The wine is sourced from vineyards planted with Dijon 76 and Clone 95. Fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures of 13–14°C over approximately 25 days, with malolactic conversion permitted, and oak aging introduces toast, vanilla and butter. Aroma: intense tropical fruit, with pineapple, ripe mango and banana, then softer peach and apricot, with toasty oak and subtle vanilla underneath. The palate is smooth and generous, with ripe golden berries and grapefruit citrus meeting buttery toffee notes, with substantial mid-palate weight and well-calibrated acidity. The finish is long and elegant, with lingering tropical fruit and lemon zest, plus faint toasty notes and a creamy texture.