Rothschild & Concha Y Toro, Almaviva, Maipo Valley 2019

Founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro in Puente Alto, Almaviva excels with its Bordeaux-inflected reds created by Michel Friou. Its 2019 cuvée —68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmenere, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Merlot—enjoyed an extraordinary year, resulting in a fragrant nose of dark fruit, lavender, eucalyptus, blackcurrant, and cigar box aromas. The refined palate has a fresh core and velvety feel.

Drink 2022 - 2034

A very refined and polished red with currants and hints of cedar, chocolate and hazelnuts. Subtle and fine. Medium- to full-bodied, creamy and nicely textured. Friendly and caressing. Closing down. 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carménère, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot. Drink now or hold. It will age nicely.

The 2019 Bordeaux Blend Almaviva is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carménère, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot from Puente Alto that spent 18 months in three-fourths new barrels—purple in colour. The remarkably detailed nose begins and ends with notes of blackberry, black currant and blueberry, while in between, balsamic aromas ranging from camphor to ash appear, along with a whiff of violets. All of the above comes packaged in a cigar box. Sugary initially, the flow is creamy and expansive, with polished tannins, while it grows more compact later on, stretching out the flavours. A red that showcases the best of Maipo.

The first harvest of this joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro was in 1996. Located in Puente Alto, they grow Bordelais varieties in gravel-rich soils to produce Almaviva and, beginning in 2018, a second wine called Epu. Since 2007, the oenologist has been Frenchman Michel Friu.

Drink 2024 - 2034

The glamour, spice and power that you find with Epu but here given the full weight and balance of concentrated black cherry and damson fruits, cardamom pod and white pepper spices and confident tannins. A serious Almaviva, one that has personality and focus. It will benefit from a few more years in bottle from now - and then suggest drinking it within the next 5 to 10 years to make the most of the generosity that is just overflowing. 75% new oak.

Drink 2023 - 2035

The 2019 Almaviva is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmenère from Peumo), 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot, higher in Carmenere and reflecting a warmer and drier vintage when the bottled wine reached 15% alcohol. It fermented with destemmed grapes in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels, 75% of them new, for 18 months. Here, the Carmenere adds herbal freshness and changes the aromatic profile when compared with the 2019 Epu.

2019 was a good year for Carmenere, which suffers in extremely warm years like 2017, but in moderately warm years like 2019, the variety displays that herbal character and has good density. It's full-bodied and round, with saturated tannins, tasty, spicy and long, with a dry, serious finish. It's balsamic, with notes of camphor and a silky and velvety texture. 200,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2021.

Drink 2021 - 2030