ALMAVIVA 2015 MAG 1.5L
CHILE
2015 Viña Almaviva "Almaviva" Bordeaux Blend Puente AltoSKU #1367489100 points James Suckling[Outer quote mark]  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. Needs four or five years in bottle but a joy to taste now. *Ranked #1 in James Suckling Top 100 of 2017*  [Inner quote mark]  (5/2017)96 points Decanter[Outer quote mark]  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. (JA)  [Inner quote mark]  (6/2017)95 points Wine Spectator[Outer quote mark]  Powerful and rich, this is 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. *Highly Recommended* (KM)  [Inner quote mark]  (5/2018)93 points Wine Advocate[Outer quote mark]  2015 was a dry and warm year, and the 2015 Almaviva shows ripe and voluptuous, with a full body and sweet fruit on the finish. The varietal breakdown is 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carménère, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot; the high percentage of the Carménère, a constant in warmer years, comes from Puente Alto and also Peumo, the classical zone for the grape in Cachapoal. The élevage was in 82% new barriques and lasted 18 months. It's creamy and sleek, with polished tannins. It was a ripe and dry year, with higher yields than 2014, which is more concentrated; in 2015 the yields were a little higher with slightly larger grapes and bunches, and for winemaker Michel Friou, this results in better balance, with a ratio of skin to juice that is more balanced than in years when the grapes are smaller and might produce very tannic wines. However, the wines show very consistent in the last few years, always harmonious and combining power with elegance while showing the nuances from the year, which tend not to be huge. This has a little less alcohol than the 2014, and the day I tasted it, it showed more Cabernet Sauvignon personality. (LG) 93+  [Inner quote mark]  (9/2018)93 points Vinous[Outer quote mark]  The usual local black currant flavors are present, along with maraschino cherry. Complex, with clear influence from the oak, this is an alcoholic wine with a firm structure and taut feel. A serious-minded balance between freshness and flavor allows it to breathe pleasantly. (JH)  [Inner quote mark]  (3/2020)Jancis Robinson[Outer quote mark]  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! 17.5/20 points (RH)  [Inner quote mark]  (9/2017)

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