Maipo

On the nose our 2016 Chilean Merlot melds attractive hedgerow aromas with notes of cinnamon spice. Soft, plummy fruit comes to the fore on the palate with layers of intense blackberry fruit. The finish is deliciously rounded, smooth and fresh with a hint of sweet morello cherry. Incredibly versatile and very drinkable, this is quite simply the perfect all-rounder.
Catriona Felstead MW - Wine Buyer

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.

2014
This is a wine that simultaneously defines elegance and power. Complex aromas of blueberry, black currant, and black licorice. Full-body yet refined and beautiful with stunning length and complexity. It has a transparency that shows such greatness and beauty. Half the normal production. Has an energy and brightness. Chile's first perfect wine and well deserved. Better in 2020. 100 points, James Suckling, Sept16

2012
This is a superb red with currant, white truffle, sandalwood and stone. Full body, chewy tannins and a powerful finish. Turns to iodine. Gravel and hints of licorice too. Very, very long. This IS the La Mission Haut Brion of Chile. A phenomenal cabernet sauvignon. Needs at least five years to soften. 800 cases. Wait until 2018. 97 points, James Suckling, Oct14

2010
A racy cabernet with plum and dark berry character and hints of chocolate. It's full-bodied, with firm tannins and a fresh finish. Plenty of hazelnut and cherry character in the aftertaste. Give it three to four years of bottle age before opening. 95 points, James Suckling, Jun14

Located in the Maipo Valley, in Chile's central zone, Puente Alto was recognized over twenty years ago as offering ideal conditions for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. It is here that 85 hectares have been reserved exclusively for Almaviva, the joint venture of Mouton- Rothschild and Concha y Toro. Characteristic features of Puente Alto include its stony soil, cold, rainy winters, and the hot days and cool nights of its summers. The Almaviva vineyard is tended with meticulous care from pruning to harvest. A revolutionary underground drip irrigation system has been installed, making it possible to deliver the precise amount of water that each vine needs with a constant concern for quality. 

2009 was an exceptionally easy year for the region - a perfect flowering, a hot and dry summer, cool nights and a healthy, juicy harvest have made for what the property describe as a pure, focussed, elegant wine with lovely, smooth tannins, a silky texture and exceptional balance.