Central Valley

We are delighted to be working with the brilliant De Martino on this new addition to our range. The wine is surprisingly restrained, a nod to Bordeaux evident in its lean, focused character and fine, grainy tannins. This is, however, still full of fresh blackberry fruit with sweet black cherries completing the long yet refreshing finish. Perfect to pour straight away, this also has the gravitas to merit decanting – if you have the patience, that is.
Catriona Felstead MW, Wine Buyer

A remarkably full-bodied and fruit expressive Cabernet Sauvignon, with masses of ripe blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, ably supported by spicy French oak notes. The fine, ripe tannins make this a very page-worthy wine.
Martin Hudson MW, Wine Buyer

The 2016 harvest was complicated by rain in late April, which made them hurry up and finish two weeks earlier than normal. The year was also cooler, and the 2016 Almaviva, a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot has less alcohol at 13.9% compared to 15% in 2014. The élevage was shortened to 16 months, and they decreased the percentage of new French barrels used—down to 77% from the 82% in the previous year. The wine is fresher and less marked by the oak, a more fluid version, with fine tannins. This is a little different, a lighter and fresher year. It was a very dry winter, complicated by rains. I found very good harmony and fine tannins, balance and freshness in one of the most elegant vintages I remember from Almaviva. This has contained power, very accessible tannins and no green notes at all. It's young but accessible and should develop nicely in bottle, as it has the balance and freshness. This is an elegant and fresh vintage for Almaviva, young and tender, taking advantage of the natural conditions for it. Well done! 180,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2017.
The Wine Advocate

Lapostolle Wines was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, heiress to the Grand Marnier empire, to create world class wines using the French experience and the magnificent terroirs of Chile. The company now owns 370 hectares of vines, producing around 200000 cases annually, with the jewel in the crown being Clos Apalta, a single vineyard cuvee from a sub region of the Colchagua valley.

First launched in 1997, the wine is a blend of Carmenere (Chile’s signature red grape), Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Made with a firm nod to Bordeaux, but from the more Mediterranean climate provided by this part of Chile, the 2014 vintage is the finest to date.

Almaviva was established in 1996 by Baron Philippe de Rothschild. With the steady hand of Patrick Leon (winemaker at Mouton and Opus One), the results have been nothing short of spectacular. Continents collide in a truly spectacular fashion. This is the finest bottle of South American wine we have ever tried.  Previous vintages of this glorious Mouton Rothschild crafted wine have been very good but this magnificent offering is breathtaking and although a tad on the pricey side for a Southern Hemisphere bottle it delivers above and beyond the price tag.  Precise, ripe, intense and as silky and sexy as a generous top Pauillac with Latino flair! Gorgeous!

A deep, intense and attractive ruby red color. The bouquet is pure and forward, revealing clean aromas of blackberries, blackcurrant and licorice, associated with subtle notes of vanilla, dark chocolate,incense and spices.

The mouth feel is generous with round, concentrated and refined tannins, underlining a plenitude of ripe fruit. The wine is polished, elegant and focused, ending in a long, dense and fleshy finish. The overall result is a complex and powerful wine, persistent, layered and well balanced.

Almaviva was established in 1996 by Baron Philippe de Rothschild (of Ch. Mouton Rothschild) and Concha y Toro. Their aim was to create the first Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé equivalent in Chile. With 40 hectares of Concha y Toro's best Puente Alto vineyards and the steady hand of Patrick Leon (winemaker at Mouton and Opus One), the results have been nothing short of spectacular.

The nose is elegant and multi-layered, revealing a generous bouquet of ripe cassis, wild berries and violets, with underlying notes of vanillin, espresso bean and dark mocha. The palate is packed full of rich and dense fruit, yet there is a cool definition and character to the wine. The tannins are perfectly balanced and ripe. The cool growing season has no doubt balanced out the rich character of fruit with a real sense of harmony and balance.

A “perfect summer” in 2015 has resulted in great volume of fruit on the nose, hints of new oak too, a much bigger wine than previous vintages. The Cabernet dominates on the palate with notes of ripe blackcurrant, cedar and spice, rich and full-bodied. Merlot and Carmenere are in evidence too, rounding-out and filling-out the mouthfeel on the palate and adding some depth and complexity. The rich fruit is balanced by crisp acidity and full, firm tannins. A big, rich Clos Apalta, clearly built for the long-term, this will need a few years in the cellar, but has a wonderful, long life ahead of it. Drink 2022-2040+.
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager

The 2012 VIK somehow manages to be even more impressive than the exceptional 2011. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Carménère, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 2% Syrah, this wine has an intense, lifted nose dominated by blackcurrants. The palate however is beautifully fresh and succulent with layer upon layer of smooth, svelte fruit coming through. The tannins are in abundance, coating the mouth, but are pin-point fine resulting in a sense of suave sophistication. This is what ultra-premium, modern Chile is all about: exceptional concentration yet elegant with a juicy, refreshing character that brings harmony and balance to the endless finish. Drink 2018-2035+.
Catriona Felstead MW - Wine Buyer