Almaviva is a joint venture between Concha y Toro and Baron Philippe de Rothschild. The wine is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Carmenere and 3% Cabernet Franc.
A captivating nose, dark cherry, currant and cassis with some cedar, mint, vegetables and infused with a slight hint of petrol/motor oil.
On the palate, raspberry, plum, cranberry, cassis, dark fruit compote, notes of iron and minerality as well as some smoke and spice. A touch of leather, licorice and earth. Powerful, structured and focused, but at the same time it is elegant, plump, plush and silky smooth. Loaded with fruit, but by no means a bomba de fruta.
I thought this was a great bottle of wine. It is showing extremely well, soft and open but with enough tannins and structure to put down for another 3-5 years. Given the state of the economy and adjusting to life with a mortgage, I would be inclined to buy 4 bottles of Cuvelier de Los Andes 2005 for the same price as a single bottle of Almaviva. That being said, in a blind tasting one might assume this is 1st or 2nd Growth Bordeaux costing twice as much.
Value aside, I savored this bottle of wine and regret there is only one more bottle hiding in my collection — and it ranks as one of the top 5 wines I have had from South America. Recommended.
