Almaviva Red Wine 2019

The 2019 Almaviva is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmenère (from Peumo), 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Merlot, higher in Carmenere and reflecting a warmer and drier vintage when then bottled wine reached 15% alcohol. It fermented with destemmed grapes in stainless steel and matured in French oak barrels, 75% of them new, for 18 months. Here, the Carmenere adds herbal freshness and changes the aromatic profile when compared with the 2019 Epu. 2019 was a good year for Carmenere, which suffers in extremely warm years like 2017, but in moderately warm years like 2019, the variety displays that herbal character and has good density. It's full-bodied and round, with saturated tannins, tasty, spicy and long, with a dry, serious finish. It's balsamic, with notes of camphor and a silky and velvety texture. 200,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2021.

This red offers ripe plum and cherry cordial flavors up front, revealing layers of nuance as it unfolds, including intriguing orange zest, Calabrian chili and olive notes. Presents a fresh, minerally acidity midpalate that pushes all the flavors to the finish, with zesty but firm tannins and echoes back to the opening flavors. Shows tremendous length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. 3,500 cases made; 500 cases imported.

The 2019 Bordeaux Blend EUP is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Carmenere, 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc from Puente Alto, Maipo, aged for 12 months in French barrels. Vivid purple in color. The intense nose offers blackberry and black currants notes with hints of jam, pepper and balsamic aromas. Indulgent initially with good intensity and fruitiness. The polished Maipo tannins keep in juicy in spite of the 15% alcohol, filling the mouth with flavor.