One of the stars of Chile, I always love writing about one of the famed wines of the world, Vina Almaviva. An illustrious story dating back to 1997, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle, Chairman of Viña Concha y Toro S.A., sealed a partnership agreement with a view to create an exceptional Franco-Chilean wine called Almaviva. Produced under the joint technical supervision of both partners, the first vintage had great acclaim upon its launch in 1998. The rest has been history.
I have been drawn to these wines since I first tried them a decade ago. For those who have never had the cache to try Vina Almaviva, you are in for a great treat. The wines show incredible terroir and a wonderful veil of tension. They age gracefully too, as I tried the 2011 bottling not long ago and it was truly singing. One thing I love about this blend is how it captures the art of truly exceptional Carmenère. A varietal that has been a shining star for Chile, this wine really is one of the finest expressions of Carmenère that you will find. Although the blend is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, Carmenère adds the lovely herbal tones and scorched earth accents to this formidable wine.
Almaviva wines dense and massive, needing a lot of air prior to enjoying. Like many great modern wines of the world, they are approachable in their youth after a long decant. I recently had the chance to taste the 2018 Vina Almaviva and was absolutely blown away with the quality of the wines. The 2018 Almaviva Red Wie (OB, 97) is a spellbinding blend of nearly all Cabernet Sauvignon with 19% Carmenère and small parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It is nothing short of a magical blend that has a long life ahead of it. Learn more about this famed winery at http://www.almavivawinery.com/en/ Here is my review of the new 2018 Almaviva.
2018 Almaviva Red Wine- A captivating blend by winemaker Michel Friou, the 2018 Almaviva Red Wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon with 19% Carmenère, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Weighing in at 14.9% alcohol, the wine was aged for eighteen months in French oak (73% new) before bottling, a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch less Carmenère than the ’17 bottling. Right away the allure of green bell pepper notes entice alongside Turkish coffee, creme de cassis and blueberry compote that all take shape in the glass. The palate is dense and plush but shows a sterling veil of tension that runs through the core of the wine. Layers of anise, green bell pepper, blackberry cordial, and Black Forest Cake all parade on the palate. Absolutely gorgeous to consume in its youth, this really needs a two hour decant fully evolve if you can’t hold back from enjoying this gorgeous wine. Drink 2022-2040- 97