2021 Almaviva Bordeaux Blend Puente Alto Valle de Maipo

Crafted by Michel Friou from a legendary vineyard in Puente Alto, this is a precise red blend that balances opulence with elegance. The nose delivers blackcurrant, cherry, redcurrant and liquorice aromas with hints of violets, eucalyptus, spice, and pencil shavings. Fleshy, with a juicy, energetic core and polished tannins that promise ageing potential. A classy, harmonious wine. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Carmenère, with dashes of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it was aged for 20 months in new French barrels. (AI)

A joint venture between two of the most famous names in Bordeaux and Chile – Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro – Almaviva has long been one of Chile's flagship wines, and the excellent 2021 vintage is a great example of exactly why it ranks among the world's most collectible Bordeaux blends. The 2021 vintage is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Carménère, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, sourced from meticulously farmed vineyards at the foot of the Andes. Following fermentation, the wine matures for 20 months in French oak barrels, mostly new, adding structure and polish without overwhelming the fruit. The cooler 2021 growing season produced a wine with tremendous freshness and more restraint than the plusher 2020 vintage, emphasizing elegance over sheer power. Sun-ripened blackberry, raspberry, graphite, violet, cedar, and subtle graphite unfold gradually in the glass, supported by vibrant acidity and a seamless, supple mouthfeel. Rather than leading with opulence, this is a wine that is elegant and sophisticated, revealing increasing layers of complexity with air and promising decades of graceful aging in the cellar. If you're looking for a bottle that showcases why Chile has become one of the world's premier fine wine regions, Almaviva remains the benchmark. The 2021 Almaviva is a compelling reminder that Chile's finest Bordeaux blends belong in the same conversation as the great classified growths of the Médoc, delivering First Growth-level craftsmanship at a fraction of the price commanded by Bordeaux's elite.