2012 Montes Alpha M
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Tasting notes
Saturated ruby. Powerful, spice- and smoke-accented dark berry, vanilla and floral pastille scents, along with hints of allspice and mocha. Velvety and seamless in texture, offering deeply concentrated blackberry, cherry-vanilla and fruitcake flavors and a suggestion of sweet chewing tobacco. A suave, supple wine that finishes with excellent clarity, spicy lift and just a hint of fine-grained tannins.
Critic scores
Average Score
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The concentrated and ripe 2012 Alpha M is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with some 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% each Merlot and Petit Verdot; it matured in French barriques for 18 months, which seems to be the standard in this price range. The minty Cabernet notes are there, with some bright blue fruit, Mediterranean herbs and plenty of sweet spices from the élevage. The palate is full-bodied with soft, round tannins, velvety, balanced and easy to drink; but not really exciting, quite predictable. 48,000 bottles produced.