Montes, `Purple Angel` Colchagua
Country: Chile Region: Colchagua Valley Vintage: 2019
Category: Red Wine Color: Red
Producer: Montes
"Adding the Montes wines to our portfolio in 2015 was the realisation of a long-held ambition, after many years of admiring what Aurelio Montes was achieving in Chile. Taste the wines and find out why we feel that way. The Sauvignon Blancs are lifted and fresh, their varietal character derived from growing the grapes in the right place and picking them when they are ripe and not, as many in Chile seem to do, by picking them green in order to ensure an herbaceous character which displays what they think is the mark of the varietal. The Merlots, Malbecs and Cabernets have lovely colour, intensity and definition, and supple tannins. This is rare in Chile.
So how do they do it? Not surprisingly, in the vineyard. They learned, when they started producing Montes Alpha in 1987, that they needed balanced yields and to harvest when the grapes were ripe. They adapted these practices to all their vineyards and the results are startling. Montes' own vineyards cover 75% of their requirements. The other 25% of fruit is produced on vineyards they have planted, cultivated and picked. In other words, they control everything except the ownership of the land. In addition to this control over the vineyard, they also sell in bulk what is not good enough to go into the bottles that carry their label. Having made the selection in the vineyard, they are able to make a further selection in the winery. The results are there for you to taste."
Winemaker: Aurelio Montes Baseden
Vineyards:
The grapes for Purple Angel come from Montes' own vineyards in Apalta and Marchigüe, arguably two of the finest sites in the Colchagua Valley. In Apalta, vines are planted on 45° slopes, providing good exposure to achieve ripeness. Cool ocean breezes and low nighttime temperatures moderate this warm area, permitting slow development and retention of varietal aromas and acidity. Marchigüe is slightly cooler because of its closer proximity to the ocean. Conditions are dry, reducing the threat of fungal disease and resulting in consistently healthy harvests. All grapes were hand harvested.
Vinification:
Grapes underwent a meticulous, dual sorting process in the winery, once by machine using camera 'eyes' to reject less than perfect grapes and once by hand. Only perfect berries made the final cut for this wine. Fruit underwent cold soaking for 10 days to extract aroma and colour, before fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks for eight days. Following this, the wine spent 15-20 days on skins to enhance structure and colour. After malolactic fermentation, the wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 18 months.
Tasting Notes:
Purple Angel displays the rich flavours typical of Carménère. The addition of Petit Verdot gives spice, colour, structure and acidity. Deep ruby red in colour, the wine has alluring red and blackberry notes on the nose. The palate is densely concentrated, with spice and mocha lingering on the finish.
Food Suggestion: An exemplary match for red meats; pork ribs or pink roast lamb cutlets encrusted in rosemary, black pepper and salt flakes.
