ALMAVIVA
2014 Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro
Reserved nose, but there's a harmony here - a cool plum and graphite fruit, not explosive but gentle and forceful at the same time. Almost too restrained? A pepper dust of alcohol in the tannins on the finish.L&S (Sept 2016)
Duty Paid
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
In Bond
75cl bottles (wood case of 6)
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The current release is the 2014 Almaviva, the classical Bordeaux blend from Puente Alto, one of the most prestigious appellations in Maipo. This is a late and slow ripening terroir. This was the reason why the frost of September 2013 didn't affect them, because the vines had not yet sprouted. In the last few years they have been on a quest in search of more purity, precision and character, improving the quality of the tannins to make them silkier without losing length and volume. It's easier said than done, but they are getting there. The harvest started on April 1st with the first Merlot and finished on May 16th with the last Carmenere. The final blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot; they didn't use any Merlot this time. After a sorting of bunches and individual grains, the grapes fermented in stainless steel tanks, some with native yeasts, others with selected ones. Malolactic was in oak barrel or tank, especially in warmer years. The élevage was in 77% new French oak barrels, the remaining ones second use, and it lasted 18 months. 180,000 bottles were produced. There is one single lot that was bottled between January 6th and 20th of 2016. I retasted the 2012 and 2013 for comparison, and they are developing as expected, showing the character of the vintages. 2012 was warmer and riper, an early, warm vintage, harvested two weeks before average. 2013 was the opposite, a late and cool harvest with bigger bunches and higher yields, harvested mostly in May, and as a result, it's a more harmonious and subtle vintage. 2014 would be something in between 2012 and 2013, without the excesses of heat or cold from those years but with lower yields in 2014. The last weeks before the harvest were a little cooler, so it has some of the freshness of 2013 and part of the power of 2012. For winemaker Michel Friou, 2014 could be a similar style to what they got in 2007. Drinking range: 2018 - 2030 Rating: 94 Luis Gutierrez, www.robertparker.com (Apr 2017)
Cabernet Sauvignon: 68 %, Carmenère: 22 %, Cabernet Franc: 8 %, Petit Verdot: 2 %. Barrel Aging: 18 Months, new French oak. The 2014 vintage displays a dark ruby red color, deep and opaque. The nose reveals a generous, layered and powerful bouquet of blueberry, blackberry and blackcurrant, associated with hints of cedar and spices, fine notes of vanilla, walnut, licorice and dark chocolate. Dense and full-bodied, this wine fills the mouth with round, ripe and refined tannins, leaving an overall impression of balance, finesse and persistence. Produced from a superb vintage, this wine strikes a wonderful combination of elegance and power.Winemaker's notes (Sept 2016)
A wine with wonderful blueberry, blackberry and hints of cedar and spice. Full body, dense and beautiful fruit. Chocolate, walnut and berry. It goes on for minutes. A fabulous wine. Better in 2020 but gorgeous now. Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2016)
Almaviva
Founded in 1997, Almaviva winery is a joint venture between Baroness Philippine de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle of Concha y Toro. The partnership came about with a view to make an exceptional Franco-Chilean wine that would combine the classic traditions and knowledge of Bordeaux, with the local climate, terroir and vineyards of Chile. The French Château concept, where the terroir, the bodega and the technical team work together exclusively in the production of an excellent wine, was the first of its kind in Chile.
The fusion of these two cultures is evident in the name Almaviva, which has a Hispanic sonority but is in fact the name of the Count Almaviva, the hero of the classical French play The Marriage of Figaro, by Beaumarchais. The writing on the label is done in Beaumarchais’ own hand and the logo represents a ritual drum used by the Mapuche, a nod to Chile’s ancestral history.
The vineyard consists of 85 hectares, located in Puento Alto, one of the southern suburbs of Santiago and produced under the joint technical supervision of both partners. The first vintage was a great international success upon its launch in 1998. This elegant and complex wine is made from a blend of traditional Bordeaux varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot - with Cabernet Sauvignon being the dominant grape. The wine is vinified in stainless steel and aged in new French oak barrels for 16-18 months.
Please place your order here or email it to sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk with final delivery instructions.
DELIVERY:The wines will become available by the end of the year and should be shipped very early next year.
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