Carmenère resurfaced in Chile only in 1993, after being believed extinct since phylloxera hit Bordeaux, its original home, around 1880. In Chile, its sole home at the moment, we consider it our "Chilean variety" and call it the "Jurassic Park" grape, returned from extinction.

Montes pioneered the Chilean wine scene by creating super-premium wines, including the Montes Alpha range, and icons such as Montes Alpha M and Montes Folly. Montes also led the way to quality by planting on steep mountain slopes. But Montes, Chile's wine pioneer, also knows when to wait –Aurelio Montes preferred to take his time and develop the Carmenère variety until he was satisfied that it could be a top contender, the very best Montes could possibly produce. It was worth the wait...this new beauty (a blend of 92% Carmenère and 8% Petit Verdot, with 18 months in new French and American oak barrels) is touched by the wings of an angel... a PURPLE ANGEL.