Almaviva 2015 (750ML)

100 JS / 96 DE / 95 WS / 17.5 JR

#1 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2017
#1 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of the Andes 2017

A glorious and complex nose of tobacco, blackberries and hints of stones and flowers. Hints of bitter chocolate. Full-bodied, very tight and compacted. Linear backbone gives this form and tension. It has the same character on the palate as well as cayenne and other spice. Loved the 2014 but this shows more fine-grained tannins. So balanced and harmonious. A blend of 69% cabernet sauvignon, 24% carmenere, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Needs four or five years in bottle but a joy to taste now. - James Suckling

This latest release has 2% of Petit Verdot, adding a dash of dark pepper spice. It's a lovely wine, structured, intense but not tight, and beautifully balanced. There are some great liquorice and soft berry spice flavours, with notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon and sage. It has soft, smooth tannins which lend a supple texture to the wine. This gets better and better in the glass and has a freshness and grip that suggests great ageing potential.Drinking Window 2020 - 2035. Jane Anson, Decanter

Powerful, rich and full of juicy dark plum, cherry tart and berry compote flavors that are creamy and lush. Hints of French roast and spice emerge midpalate, with a long finish that is elegant and savory. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2023. From Chile. - Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator Insider HOT Wine

69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carmenère, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Tremendous richness and plushness to this. Excellent fruit intensity, which isn't just generic black fruit but has nuance and detail. Far more satisfying than plenty of Bordeaux 2015s! - Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com