Worst Wine in Eons

2008 Montes Cherub Rose of Syrah

This is from Colchagua Valley, Chile. Comes with screw top. Purchased at Costco. Just about every fault one can find with a young wine that isn't TCA. Foul, fecal, brett, slight secondary fermentation. Just horrible taste.

This is going back to Costco.

[David M. Bueker]

Lots of reds flags for me on that one: Chilean Syrah, cute name, Costco...

so.....what, like 88 points?

I had a cloying experience with Montes cabernet recently, but was told that their Syrah is the only exception to the jammy, super mature, over-the-top house style. While this is not the Syrah, is bodes ill for their ability to use the grape...

Funny, I just had a guy at a store recommend that too me last week. Didn't buy it though, but might have tried in the future - maybe not now.

SO...avoid all Chilean Syrah? I have to admit I tried one that I liked last year-Azul Profundo, that was quite nicely savory and meaty with good fruit.

[David M. Bueker]

Well I have not tried them all, but I've never had one I liked.

I've never had any problem with the Apalta Vd. Cab, and like the Syrah as a possible ringer for Rhones.

The 'M' and the Folly are quite good, but unfortunately also quite expensive ($80 range)

Maybe they've changed their style since I was drinking them regularly, but jammy wouldn't have been the adjective I'd have associated with Montes. OTOH, how much of a surprise can it be that a low end Rose turns out to be crap?

I had a cloying experience with Montes cabernet recently, but was told that their Syrah is the only exception to the jammy, super mature, over-the-top house style. While this is not the Syrah, is bodes ill for their ability to use the grape...

Oswaldo, while this might make me sound snobby, I'll say it anyway. I don't buy entry level Chilean wines at all. I just find them pretty much as what you wrote above. I will say though that I fully enjoy the Montes Alpha red wines, even their merlot and I don't drink much new world merlot. Their alpha cabernet is better than many west coast cabs in the same price range, as is the Alpha syrah. I expect the Folly syrah is a very good example too, but at $80 I "ain't" about to find out. The Montes regular bottle of pinot is certainly drinkable at or about $12, but drinkable is all I will give it. I am not big on either their sauvignon blanc, nor the chardonnay.

I bought it as a wine that my wife could open (within her comfort price-range) when I was not in town. She knows enough to not go poking through the cellar, since she doesn't know what is cheap and replaceable. That she and her friend barely drank any and she said it didn't taste good - that says pretty much all you need to know. When I got home the next day and confirmed how bad the wine is, well, it seem indicative of the wine, not the bottle.

2008 Montes Cherub Rose of Syrah

This is from Colchagua Valley, Chile. Comes with screw top. Purchased at Costco. Just about every fault one can find with a young wine that isn't TCA. Foul, fecal, brett, slight secondary fermentation. Just horrible taste.

This is going back to Costco.

Bernard,

I have had this wine in earlier vintages, and while I don't like it as well as some South of France rosé wines that I drink every summer, I did not find it as you found yours to be. I think that your bottle must have been a really bad bottle, IIRC I have seen this wine (2007 vintage) touted as having been rated (for all that matters) at 92 points. See here: http://www.monteswines.com/english/noticias/091108a.htm

Hmmm, after posting the link, I decided to go back and read the page in it's entirety, and IC things that make me rethink the wine. One statement was this one "Lengthy, fruit-driven finish with balanced, controlled sweetness. For full specs go to this web page and click on Technical data.

A friend of ours brought a bottle of the Cherub over last Saturday night and it was nothing like you describe, Bernard. I thought it was a pretty nice, basic rose. It was clean and dry but had some nice fruit to go with it. Definitely no indication of off-flavors or secondary fermentation.

Now the question is, how many bad bottles are out there vs. how many good ones?

BobH, you opening a Marsanne tomorrow?!

BobH, you opening a Marsanne tomorrow?!

We aren't doing a big dinner tomorrow Bob, in fact we will go out, and BYOB is not permitted here. I had a bottle of the 2002 marsanne earlier this week though.