Purple Hands Oenotri Montepulciano 2023 – 93pts
Purple Hands Oenotri Montepulciano 2024 – 93pts
I thought I may as well write about these two wines together given they’re only one vintage apart and they share similar characteristics. They both show lots of lovely primary fruit on the nose, mainly mulberry and blueberry, as well as herbs, while the 2023 is a bit richer, with boysenberry, jubey confectionery, black pepper and graphite, and the 2024 is a touch brighter, with black cherry and strawberry.
They’re both incredibly juicy with immense fruit sweetness that lends them freshness and moreishness; the 2023’s tannins are chewy while the 2024’s are still a bit rough. Both wines need a huge amount of air before they are approachable, which makes them even better on the second night.
I enjoyed them with tomato-based pasta sauces and roasts but I imagine they’ll pair well with whatever you like, such is the versatility of Montepulciano, a grape I never tire of tasting. They’re both still very young so while they’re drinking well now, they should also age for at least another five–eight years or more.
Purple Hands Planta Circa Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 – 95+pts
Purple Hands Planta Circa Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 – 96+pts
Coming from vines believed to have been planted somewhere between 1880–90, these Ancestor Vines (anything older than 125 years) seem to still be going strong, simply going by the wine they’re able to produce. Like the Oenotri Montepulcianos, there’s obviously some similarities with the 2023 and 2024 Planta Circa Cabernets, but also some interesting points of difference. They’re extremely fragrant wines, with aromas that can fill half the room right after pouring. They both show lots of dark mulberry and black cherry, dried herbs, a smidge of oak, and a touch of dried black fruits; the 2023 also has blueberry, while the 2024 is a bit riper with confectionery and black olive.
On the palate, this is where the fun really begins. These are supremely enjoyable wines with silky, integrated tannins and bundles of fruit sweetness; the 2023 shows some slight bitterness on the back palate which goes away with some air, while the 2024 even has a bit of saltiness. And in terms of air, both wines (but particularly the 2024) need to breathe for a looooong time. I decanted the 2024 about eight hours before first trying it, but it really wasn’t ready until the second day, when everything finally fell into place.
These wines demand protein, whether animal or vegetable, and given the price, I’d recommend pairing them with a prime portion; they’re wines that enhance and are themselves enhanced by food. They’re both still at the beginning of their lives, so while they’re drinking exceptionally well now, they’ll also cellar for at least another 10–20 years.
