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Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva Puente Alto Red Blend 2014
97 Points One of Chile's finest wines, the Almaviva 2013 is a delicious Cabernet blend. 97 Points James Suckling: "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." 94 Points Robert Parker: "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.."
Ratings on Delectable
Joe D'Angelo 
Viña Almaviva has earned the status as one of Chile’s most prestigious wines, and the 2014 certainly possesses the qualities to live up to that esteemed reputation. This utterly captivating blend includes 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, which spent 18 months in new French oak. Displaying an impressive dark, inky color, this sensational red blend opens to profound aromatics of ripe blackberries and dark currants woven together with spices and cigar box, underlined by savory herbs, roasted coffee and dark chocolate nuances, which all beautifully take shape together. Full-bodied and remarkably structured this continues to impress with its remarkable depth and concentration, as layers of ripe dark fruits are framed by exotic spices. This continues to impress, as it shows excellent poise through the long multidemsional finish. While its pedigree is already quite apparent, this will demand at least a few years of bottle age before it will hit its stride. Nevertheless a sensational, age-worthy wine, which will thrive in the cellar for many years to come
Viña Almaviva has earned the status as one of Chile’s most prestigious wines, and the 2014 certainly possesses the qualities to live up to that esteemed reputation. This utterly captivating blend includes 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, which spent 18 months in new French oak. Displaying an impressive dark, inky color, this sensational red blend opens to profound aromatics of ripe blackberries and dark currants woven together with spices and cigar box, underlined by savory herbs, roasted coffee and dark chocolate nuances, which all beautifully take shape together. Full-bodied and remarkably structured this continues to impress with its remarkable depth and concentration, as layers of ripe dark fruits are framed by exotic spices. This continues to impress, as it shows excellent poise through the long multidemsional finish. While its pedigree is already quite apparent, this will demand at least a few years of bottle age before it will hit its stride. Nevertheless a sensational, age-worthy wine, which will thrive in the cellar for many years to come
9.5
James Forsyth
This is one hell of a wine, and anyone who likes a bolder style of Cabernet will agree. Plenty of vanilla and toast but still nicely integrated. Considerable intensity, hugely juicy and some spice. I can't say that I drink much from Chile and when I do it tends to be more on the budget side. This is not that. Impressive stuff.
This is one hell of a wine, and anyone who likes a bolder style of Cabernet will agree. Plenty of vanilla and toast but still nicely integrated. Considerable intensity, hugely juicy and some spice. I can't say that I drink much from Chile and when I do it tends to be more on the budget side. This is not that. Impressive stuff.
9.5
Elizabeth Rice
"Biggest disappointment". While it is a very well structured wine, my expectations were very high only to be let down. Just not extraordinary, but well made still the same.
"Biggest disappointment". While it is a very well structured wine, my expectations were very high only to be let down. Just not extraordinary, but well made still the same.
9.0
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
The 14 Almaviva Cabernet is 68% Cabernet, 22% Carménère and 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vines are 38 years of age. The wine spent 18 months in 75% new oak. The nose shows some slight funk at first. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black cherry cola/licorice and dark florals. The M+ tannins are soft and a little sticky. The fruits are slightly candied in style. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark chocolate, soft leather, crushed rocks, dark moist turned earth and dark fresh florals. The structure, length, tension, balance and finish are quiet beautiful. Producer history and notes...Almaviva began in 1997, as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. With the strengths of both families pedigree, they achieved international recognition with the the launch of their very first vintage. Their goal was to create the equivalent of Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé in Chile. Patrick Leon is their Winemaker and also makes Opus One & Mouton Rothschild. Almaviva is located in the Maipo Valley in Chile's central zone. Puente Alto has ideal conditions for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Almaviva has 85 hectares. The climatic features of Puente Alto include its; stony soil, cold, rainy winters, and the hot days and cool nights of its summers. Maipo is considered Chile’s Napa Valley.
The 14 Almaviva Cabernet is 68% Cabernet, 22% Carménère and 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vines are 38 years of age. The wine spent 18 months in 75% new oak. The nose shows some slight funk at first. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black cherry cola/licorice and dark florals. The M+ tannins are soft and a little sticky. The fruits are slightly candied in style. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark chocolate, soft leather, crushed rocks, dark moist turned earth and dark fresh florals. The structure, length, tension, balance and finish are quiet beautiful. Producer history and notes...Almaviva began in 1997, as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. With the strengths of both families pedigree, they achieved international recognition with the the launch of their very first vintage. Their goal was to create the equivalent of Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé in Chile. Patrick Leon is their Winemaker and also makes Opus One & Mouton Rothschild. Almaviva is located in the Maipo Valley in Chile's central zone. Puente Alto has ideal conditions for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Almaviva has 85 hectares. The climatic features of Puente Alto include its; stony soil, cold, rainy winters, and the hot days and cool nights of its summers. Maipo is considered Chile’s Napa Valley.
9.3
Miguel Oqueli
Es un bebé aún
Es un bebé aún
9.3
Clive McNish
Boom, jackpot! Beautifully dark and opulent, fantastic aromas, early on it starts with heavy dark fruit, truffle, earth, lead and tar and then evolves to include a scent that could be sold on the fragrance counter at Macy’s. Smooth to drink with multiple layers of fantastic balanced fruit, and soft to medium tannins and a great finish. This will age very well and I would love to taste it again in 1,2,3,4,5 ..... 15 years, hopefully life will give me the chance to do that. In the meantime I am finding a way to purchase those 15 bottles! New record score for me.
Boom, jackpot! Beautifully dark and opulent, fantastic aromas, early on it starts with heavy dark fruit, truffle, earth, lead and tar and then evolves to include a scent that could be sold on the fragrance counter at Macy’s. Smooth to drink with multiple layers of fantastic balanced fruit, and soft to medium tannins and a great finish. This will age very well and I would love to taste it again in 1,2,3,4,5 ..... 15 years, hopefully life will give me the chance to do that. In the meantime I am finding a way to purchase those 15 bottles! New record score for me.
9.8
Mike Trigg
Total shocker. Def try again
Total shocker. Def try again
9.2
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