Montes Folly

This is Montes Folly, a premium Syrah from the Montes winery and one of their three "Icon" wines. (I had not realized I had already tasted another in their Icon series, Purple Angel (but that's another tidbit). The occasion was this year's AGM for the KCC Wine Society (or rather the brunch that traditionally follows it). Montes Folly was their second foray into the super premium wine category, after the success of Montes Alpha "M" which was launched in 1996. This super Syrah was launched in 2000 to critical acclaim. Sourced from low yielding vines of the high slopes of the Finca de Apalta vineyards, the juice is further concentrated by 20% bleeding once in the tank. After wild yeast fermentation, the wine is aged for 18 months in 100% new French aok. It also seems that there is a different art label for each year. As for this wine, it was a deep ruby, with a vanilla wood berry nose. Sweet fruit was abundant on the palate, well supported by an acid tannic backbone.