Download Complete Production Notes

From the outset in 1997, the aim of MontGras’ Ninquén Project was straightforward: to produce the best red wine in Chile. This bold mission was born out of an appreciation for the influence of terroir and an ambition to forge a name for MontGras in the elite ultra-premium category. 222 acres of prime vineyard atop Ninquén Hill in the heart of the Colchagua Valley were selected for this venture and planted with a range of indigenous and international red varietals. With this pioneering move into hilltop viticulture, MontGras became the first winery in Chile to plant on the plateau of a hill (Ninquen = “plateau on a hill” in ancient local dialect). Owner Hernán Gras and Santiago Margozzini craft the limited production wine from this special vineyard.

“Elegance and power are two wine descriptives that usually head in opposing directions. In this case, both are present in the same wine, something that doesn’t arise too often. On the one hand, the wine displays subtle, balanced components and on the other hand, it is full-bodied, with an underlying concentration and intensity. What I would call a really sensual wine, smooth and strong.”
-- Winemaker, Santiago Margozzini

Production Area
Blocks 178 and 185 at the MontGras Ninquén Hill vineyard in Chile’s Colchagua Valley, between Chile’s Coastal Range and the Andes. The soil here is rich in clay, strewn with rocks and stones. Seven-year-old vines are trellised using vertical shoot positioning.

Grape Varieties
65% Syrah; 35% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vinification
Select grapes are hand-harvested from Ninquén Hill. After de-stemming, whole berries are fermented on the skins. Following a 15-day maceration period, the wine is aged for approximately 18 months in new French oak barrels, then bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve high fruit concentration, deep color and intense aromas.

Color
Deep red to brilliant purple with inky black nuances

Bouquet
Lavender coupled with black currant and figs. Coffee beans and roasted almonds at the very back

Taste
Complex with well integrated fruit and oak components; well balanced between sweet, soft tannins and medium acidity; intense, concentrated mouthfeel with a very long finish

Serving Suggestions
Perfect accompaniment to roasted red meats, stews and flavorful cheeses.