2003 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva - Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (8/24/2024)
Been 14 years since I last had a bottle of this...found a leaker so we go! Still gorgeous! Fruit has reddened up a bit taking on more cherry and wild raspberries, than the purple ooozberry darkness 14 yrs ago...super plush and silky smooth with fine tannins that still hold a little white pepper spice kick...full mid with a sour tart snap and that spice...VERY exotic tasting with that woods smoke, sweet tobacco, licorice and tar...some pretties of white flowers and cherry blossoms...leather and pencil...finish does dry out a bit but that is a little nit picking. Last bottle was moving to more Rhone-ish...this one is going back to Bordeaux! Awesome! (95 points)
Nice Buzz - i really like these wines as well! For some reason i only have a couple 2015’s in the cellar, and i don’t plan to open those for quite a while
For some reason, big score?, I bought a sixer of these on release, and have only had this vintage. One bottle left…and have no clue if other vintages are similar?
I agree, but they really need time. Here is my note 11 years out. I have one more left.
2004 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva - Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (2/10/2015)
Decanted at 1:30 pm, poured back into the bottle after cleaning the bottle (tons of sediment) at 6:30, brought to Mortons for dinner and followed for about an hour.
WOW. This wine is in an incredible spot right now. Balanced fruit - neither sweet nor dark and brooding. A bit of cherries but nothing like the Glaetzer Anaperenna we drank after it, some plums and some dark berries. The flavors were so well integrated that it was difficult to distinguish one from another, but it didn't matter because the overall flavor was just great and it went down so well. There was a bit of cocoa but very light along with a touch of berry. The tannins have quietly disappeared into the night. Color was very dark, finish was average.
AND in the "You can't make this up" category, I notice that a guy at the table next to us has called over the waiter and it obviously talking about our wine, so I lean over to talk to him. It turns out that he is a member of the family that controls or runs Concha y Toro. Alma Viva is a Chilean project of Baron Rothschild and Concha y Toro, much the same way as Opus is a project of Mondavi and Rothschild. He told me that they have a periodic event at Mouton and they pour the Alma Viva, the Opus and the Mouton together. He claimed that the Alma Viva always comes out on top. After this bottle, I am not surprised.
According to the tech sheet on the web site, this is 72% Cabernet and 28% Carmenere. The exact blend varies vintage to vintage. I was surprised at the lack of merlot because this has a very velvety merlot feel to it.
NOTE: This is the third Alma Viva bottle I have opened. There has been a lot of sediment in all the bottles. A careful decant is essential to the enjoyment of this wine. (94 points)
