TN: 2003 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva (Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto)

WINE TALK
1
  • 2003 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva - Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (7/7/2018)
    Boom This is a dead ringer for a left bank Bordeaux, strongly resembling the better wines of Pauillac. Nose of dark red fruits and fresh green notes - both herbs and eucalyptus.

Rich and expansive on the palate; the tannins are nicely integrated. Truly an iron fist in a velvet glove; at once both powerful and displaying great finesse. A panoply of flavors – blackberry, cassis, pencil lead, tobacco and eucalyptus on the palate. Fruit is fully ripe but not overripe. Finishes long-.

Beautiful and at its apex; this should drink well for another decade. Unbelievably delicious. The best wine I have ever had from Chile and probably the best wine I have had this year. (95 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

Probably fair to say that I liked this a lot.

2

Sounds fantastic Corey, great note. According to CT, I had this in 2010 and it was worth 92 points…back when scoring wines was still a thang for me.

Btw man, your CT handle is pretty blasé – you really couldn’t think of anything better?

3

Alex,

Sometime I score, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I take notes, sometimes I don’t. Just depends on my mood.

As for my “handle” — when I started in CT I figured that the notes were for me and never considered a more exciting moniker. And in any case, bad wine puns (ex: Merlot My!, Carignan My Wayward Son, RieslingFan) aren’t really my style.

Drinking really wel for my palate. Nice mix of fruit and complexity.

4

The 2006 was quite nice a couple of months ago, though not in the same class as the 1982 and 1995 Mouton opened the same night.

5

I’ve always envisioned you as an exciting person…alas.

But yeah, Almaviva is some world-class Chilean wine, same tier as Clos Apalta, Casa Real & Don Melchor imo.

6

Wonderful note, Corey. At first I thought you went to the dark side, drinking Suckles 100-point WOTYs out of Laliliques, while wearing speedos on the beach, finishing with jelloshots. Makes for a more interesting CT moniker, for sure.

I’d like to try this wine. It’s quite rare that I have enjoyed a Chilean red.

7

Bobby,

It might have a bit more fruit than you’d prefer at this stage, but I see you digging the flavor profile. I very rarely drink wines from the Southern Hemisphere, but it was genuinely excellent.