Almaviva EPU 2020

Introduction

Almaviva is the name of both winery and wine born of the joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Vina Concha y Toro. It is also that of Pierre de Beaumarchais’ character, the “Count of Almaviva” in his Marriage of Figaro, a work Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart later turned into one of the most popular operas ever.

94 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The current release of their second wine is the 2020 Epu. It’s selected from the same terroir and vineyard in Puente Alto, one of the most reputed places for Cabernet Sauvignon in Chile, but from the younger vines (five to 20 years old) and harvested a little earlier to preserve acidity and fruit. In the warm and dry 2020 vintage, the wine was produced with a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Carmenere, 5% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, usually higher in Cabernet and lower in Carmenere than Almaviva. It has red ripe berries, the textbook blackberries and cassis and some creamy oak.

93 Points – Wine Spectator

Shows lovely floral blueberry and loam notes up front, while the fleshy core of concentrated blackberry and cassis grabs your attention and lingers nicely around saline and iron notes. Ends with firm, dusty tannins and hints of dark chocolate.

91 Points – Wine Enthusiast

Born in a warm and dry vintage, this wine has a dense fruit-forward nose, exhibiting maraschino cherry and a light note of green bell pepper. Its well structured and delivers plenty of fruit flavors. Plum, blackberry and cherry merge with vanilla and herbs alongside moderate acidity. The finish is long and offers hints of tobacco.