Almaviva 2016
Born in 1997 from the partnership between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro, Almaviva was conceived with the ambition to unite Bordeaux expertise with one of Chile's great wine terroirs. The vineyard is located in Puente Alto, in the upper part of the Maipo valley, a historic area for Cabernet Sauvignon at the foot of the Andes mountain range. The poor and well-drained soils, combined with a strong thermal amplitude, favor slow ripening and the preservation of remarkable freshness. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the backbone of the wine, accompanied notably by Carmenère, a grape variety that has become emblematic of Chile. This combination gives Almaviva a personality distinct from the great Bordeaux blends while maintaining a classic structure. The 2016 vintage experienced a contrasting season, with a hot and dry summer followed by cooling in March and significant rains in April, requiring great reactivity at harvest time. The harvest, which began on March 29 and ended on May 6, allowed the preservation of healthy grapes and the creation of a wine where depth and freshness advance together.
Almaviva 2016 blends 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. This high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon provides precise structure, fruit depth, and significant aging potential. Carmenère enriches the blend with spicy nuances, fine and velvety vegetal notes, while Cabernet Franc adds more aromatic lift. Petit Verdot discreetly reinforces color, tension, and intensity. After a rigorous selection of grapes, notably thanks to optical sorting, the different lots are vinified separately before blending. The aging lasts sixteen months entirely in new French oak barrels, an ambitious choice that the wine's natural concentration allows to integrate progressively. After ten years of evolution, the 2016 begins to reveal a softer texture while retaining sufficient reserve to continue its development in the cellar.
The color remains a deep and intense ruby, maintaining beautiful visual density. The bouquet combines raspberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant with nuances of coffee, cocoa, and fine spices. Aeration reveals touches of cedar, vanilla, pepper, and licorice, now better integrated into the fruit. On the palate, the body is ample but remarkably silky, with polished tannins that give the wine more depth than demonstrative power. Freshness supports the whole and extends the black fruits towards a spicy and slightly mineral register. The finish has beautiful persistence, where ripe fruits, pepper, precious wood, and cocoa nuances are found. Almaviva 2016 will accompany a rib steak, a roasted rack of lamb, duck breast, venison fillet, or cuisine with wild mushrooms.
Grape varieties: 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
