Another pleasant surprise from the pig roast was a 2004 Purple Angel by Montes from Chile's Colchagua Valley. The wine is a blend of 92% Carmenere and 8% Petit Verdot. It was also the most controversial wine in that a few people loved it and few were put off by it.
The key difference between those who liked it and those who didn't was the distinct presence of an anise flavor in the wine. Along with its dark color and full, fruit flavors the wine had a very identifiable hit of the licorice. There were very dark, but rich, fruit flavors of blackberries and black currants along with some vegetable flavors working into the mix with the anise. To me the anise was a highlight and not overpowering at all. Highly extracted wine and there was nothing shy about it. Good acid and appropriate tannin also made an appearance.
To me the most unique thing about this wine was the finish. Despite the dark, forward flavors from the start through the middle, the end had a bright, red cherry note to it. It was that small surprise at the end that elevated this wine from good to very good and made it the most interesting wine of the night for me.
It was tasty with both the plain pork and the Memphis sauced pork, and it came the closest to being a match for the Cincinnati style sauce.
2004 Montes Purple Angel, Colchagua Valley Chile. 14.5% alcohol and $40.
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