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This gorgeous blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot was tasted and positively loved by our staff! The 'Purple Angel' is so supple, ripe and velvety with great underlying acidity which keeps it clean and fresh in the mouth. Aged 18 months in French oak, this tastes like a beautiful Chilean version of ‘Clio’ from Spain. 'Purple Angel' is hands down the best wine we have ever tasted from Montes, whose first vintage was 1987. In an effort to be as eco-friendly as possible, the winery also utilizes sustainable agriculture in their vineyards. Winemaker Aurelio Montes waits for the grapes to reach their perfect moment of ripeness and harvests at under 2 tons per acre, which is a tiny yield. Made even lower in quantity by handpicking grapes, then hand sorting the clusters, grape by grape, with a team of 14 people, only the best fruit is allowed into the tank.
The Wine Advocate raves about Montes: 'Under the enlightened leadership of Aurelio Montes, the Montes winery remains one of the standard-bearers for Chilean wines. The Carmenere-based Purple Angel is one of the two or three best of its type; the Folly is arguably Chile’s finest Syrah, and the Montes Alpha M one of the Cabernet-based icons.'
Wine Advocate
The Montes icon wines begin with the 2008 Purple Angel, a blend of 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot sourced from yields of less than 2 tons/acre and aged for 18 months in new French oak. It has become one of the benchmarks for what can be achieved with Carmenere. Notions of sandalwood, exotic spices, incense, a hint of chocolate, blueberry, and black currant set the stage for a dense, rich, voluptuous, structured wine that is all about pleasure. This lengthy offering will benefit from another 3-4 years of cellaring and will provide prime drinking from 2015 to 2023.
Score: 93.
—Jay Miller,
February
2012.
Wine Enthusiast
Superripe and potent Carmenère from Montes, with coconut, prune, Port and baked cherry aromas. Calling it powerful is an understatement; it’s piercing and penetrating, with wild blackberry, coffee and bitter chocolate flavors. Toast and espresso darkness rule the finish. Drink now through 2014.
Score: 91.
—Michael Schachner,
February
01,
2012.
Wine Spectator
Dark and ripe, with well-integrated espresso and toast notes running through the blackberry, currant and dark licorice core. The solid, fleshy finish has nice pepper and cassis hints. Carmenère and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2012.
Score: 90.
—James Molesworth,
November
30,
2011.
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Price:$59.99 in mixed case $53.99 SKU01121 |  |
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