Very fragrant, smelled better than it tasted unfortunately. I expected quite a lot from this wine. Although it stopped a bit short; a bit flabby, need to be more fruit driven and refreshing. Prepared a veal fillet with a butter cream sauce with bacon and rosemary; glorious sauce and while I added about 1/4 cup of wine to the recipe, the Dr Loosen Dr L Dry Riesling which I reviewed recently (which I still had ½ a bottle left) and was unchilled, worked BETTER than the Montes Alpha. So Kudos to the Dr Loosen Riesling which got a much poorer review than it deserved as it was not tasted with food, because it tripled its value with this dish. As for the Montes Alpha, while showing a beautifully gold colour, and lovely nose, it just didn’t make me want to go back for another mouthful. I would rate it 1/4-1/2 bottle (being generous because of the nose), but just not worth buying again. The South African Fleur Du Cap was much better balanced and crisper at less than $13. The Montes Alpha was comparable to the White Box 2005 Chardy, but neither as good as the Scotchman's Hill Chardonnay. Having said that the best Chardonnay I have tasted so far is still the Plunkett Fowls 'Ladies Who Shoot their Lunch' Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2008 (sold out). I will have to try the Yalumba Wild Ferment soon, but since my current experiment with Chardonnay's and my recent trip to the Mornington Peninsula; I have to say that I am not very enthused with Chardonnays in general.