Almaviva 2009

A delightful Joint Venture between the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and the Chilean winery Concha y Toro which is taking place in Puente Alto, in the most northerly part of the Maipo Valley, in Central Chile. When this company started out in 1996, the idea was to make a First Rate or Premium wine with a markedly Bordeaux style on American soil, with a notable amount of the fresh Cabernet Sauvignon that grows in this Andean country. The modern facilities, which opened in the year 2000, show a commitment to the technology and quality which they have perfected for this first Chilean “Grand Cru”.

Appearance

A ruby-red colour, fairly intense, with violet tones.

Nose

Delicate and fresh aromas of red and black fruits such as blackcurrants and blackberries. Sweet hints of roasted red pepper along with notes of vanilla, cocoa, liquorice and spices. Very clean and intense.

Palate

Ample, with fine, smooth, juicy tannins, benefiting the ripe red and black fruit, having a very rounded silky texture, with a long meaty finish. Excellent.

Remarks

The 2009 vintage is monopolised by the large proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and rounded off with excellent touches of Carmenere, Cabernet Franc and dashes of Merlot which make it a very balanced, fruit-forward, rounded wine and extremely accessible right from the start, with no edges, without any astringency, very velvety and sublimely fresh and flavoursome, without renouncing one iota of the power which the eighteen months spent in new French barrels bestowed upon it. Red meats such as beef or veal are ideal for pairing up with this wine. Depending on how they are served, we will more or less accommodate its dominant flavours but a good grilled fillet of beef on a pesqué of quinoa, with a subtle red pepper sauce, is a valiant attempt at getting close to a Franco-Chilean style.

Serving temperature

from 16 to 18º C

Recommended glass

Schott Zwiesel, The First Collection, Cabernet Sauvignon glass.