Montes Premium Wines was founded in 1988 by four business partners who wanted to make a Bordeaux-style Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile. With vineyards in the Apalta Valley, the estate’s debut wine was the 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate soon added Chardonnay, Merlot and Syrah to its vineyards. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “over the years, Montes has been one of the standard-bearers of quality wines from Chile under the leadership of Aurelio Montes. The entire lineup is top-notch, from entry level to the top of the line."