Montes
Purple Angel

VINTAGE

2020

COUNTRY

Chile

REGION

Colchagua Valley

98

A consistent Purple Angel that really delivers the carmenere’s plushness when ripened well. Dark olives, blackberries and red chili chocolate with a splash of spice and cigar box. Fleshy and concentrated with plenty of fine-grained tannins that extend to a very creamy finish. 92% carmenere, around half from Marchigue and half from Apalta, with 8% petit verdot. Better from 2025.

Purple Angel comes from Montes’ Finca Apalta Estate vineyard with some additions from their Marchigüe Estate vineyard. These two unique vineyards feature granite-rich soils in differing degrees of decomposition. The granitic soil of both vineyards boast incredible diversity, varied in the clay content, depth, and amount of organic matter, with stones ranging from fluvial to glacial origins. Some zones are influenced by the Tinguiririca River while others are marked by mudslides and the detachment of material from high above in the mountain chain that delimits the valley. One of Chile’s most celebrated wines, Purple Angel’s Carmenère is planted in deep, rich soils, with moderate water retention, while the Petit Verdot comes from Marchigüe’s wind-swept slopes.

92% Carmenère, 8% Petit Verdot
70% of this wine was aged for 18 months in first-use French oak barrels, and 30% aged in second- and third-use use barrels.
A dry season, with yields reduced 15–20%, intensified the wines. Summer’s high temperatures accelerated the ripening process and meant harvest was a month earlier in some cases. The low fruit set resulted in bunches at with small grapes, positively affecting the concentration of aromas, flavors, and color in red grapes, giving very high quality for wines.
Deep brick-red in color, typical of the Carmenère variety, the aromas are intense, with ripe blackberry, plum, and blueberry. On the palate, black and blue fruit is complemented by sweet spice, pink pepper, coffee, and tobacco. The palate is balanced and silky, with a caramel-like body and very long finish.
Pairs well with red meat, rosemary lamp chops, pork ribs, or cannelloni.
14.5%
3.72 g/l
3.52
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