B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
“So complex and sophisticated ... It’s all about elegance and class.”
- James Suckling
Living up to Decanter's description as “a New World Grand Cru," the 99-point 2022 Viña Almaviva is another resounding triumph for this benchmark Bordeaux-style blend built on Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile’s top terroir. Château Mouton-Rothschild and Concha y Toro established Almaviva to craft a Bordeaux-style wine based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chile’s emblematic Carmeñere. Centered around a large parcel of Cab that was originally part of Concha Y Toro's iconic Don Melchor vineyard, Almaviva’s 60-hectare estate is located on the northern bank of the Maipo River at 650 meters above sea level, enjoying the cooling influence of the Andes and boasting unique, deep gravel and loam soils that contribute stony minerality to the signature cuvée.
Described by Vinous critic Joaquin Hidalgo as “a powerful and energetic red,” the blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmeñere, 4% Cab Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot was aged 70% new French oak for 20 months. The deeply textured Cabernet Sauvignon combines with the soft, velvety tannins of Carmeñere to produce a “lush, layered opulence” according to the Wine Advocate. A "sensational" effort that “will go the distance in terms of ageing potential” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, this rendition of Almaviva reaffirms the wine's status as a top-echelon, New World cult collectible. |