Almaviva - Chili 2016

The 2016 growing season began with a very dry winter, consisting only of 193 mm of rainfall from May to September 2015. June was completely dry, followed by significant rain, 119 mm in August alone. The following spring presented colder and rainier conditions than usual, especially from mid-September to mid-November, which generated less bunches and some “coulure” on the Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère vines.
Summer was particularly hot and dry, specifically in December and February. Temperatures sharply decreased in March, while April encountered unusually heavy rain on April 16-17 and 23-24, summing 109 mm in the Puente Alto vineyards.
Although the growing cycle was rather delayed with most of the phenological stages occurring later than usual, these atypical climatic conditions obliged us to anticipate and accelerate the harvest, which initially started slowly on March 29th, first with the Merlot, and finally ended in a faster pace on May 6th, which was two weeks earlier than usual.
The speed and precision of our harvesting teams to pick healthy Cabernets and Carmenère grapes after the rains, along with the optical selection and strict, careful monitoring of the vinifications in the winery allowed us to produce very promising, elegant and accessible wines, rich in fruit, freshness and character, in line with our great terroir of Puente Alto

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

par Jancis Robinson le 26/09/2018

Ruby with some evolution at the rim. Well rounded and rich with excellent balance. Riper and broader than a Bordeaux and with no suggestion of green. Good balance, refreshing, and ready to broach already. Drink 2018-2027

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

par Luis Gutierrez le 06/09/2018

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.

I sat down with winemaker Michel Friou to taste the last two releases from Almaviva, from 2015 and 2016. These are two very different years, and as usual, the comparative tasting brought out the differences in the wines in a more clear way.

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

par James Suckling le 16/03/2018

A very fine and elegant Almaviva with fresh fruit and herb character. Medium-to-full body, tight and focused with very fine, linear tannins and a chocolate and light cedar undertone to the whole thing. Savory, too. Smoked meat and succulent. It's tight but opens with air. Classicism here. 66% cabernet sauvignon, 24% carmenere, 8% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drink in 2021.