Viña Almaviva - EPU 2022

In 1997, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and Don Alfonso Larraín, Chairman of Concha y Toro, concluded a partnership agreement in order to create a fine Franco-Chilean wine called Almaviva. The Almaviva estate includes a mansion and a winery as well as a 50 hectare (124-acre) vineyard planted with three typical Bordeaux grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Carmenere. The wine is the result of the successful encounter of two cultures: Chile offers its soil, its climate and its vineyard, while France brings its winegrowing traditions and expertise.

The name Almaviva is taken from classic French literature: Count Almaviva is a central figure in the famous play The Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais (1732-1799), turned into an opera by the genius of Mozart. The label bears the name “Almaviva” in Beaumarchais’ own hand and pays tribute to Chile’s ancestral history with three reproductions of a symbolic drawing from the Mapuche civilisation.

EPU, the name of Almaviva’s second wine, means “two” in the language of the Mapuche, one of the main indigenous cultures of southern Chile. EPU comes from the same exceptional vines and terroir of Almaviva, Puente Alto. Modelled on the second wines of the most prestigious Bordeaux châteaux, and produced in very limited quantities, EPU shares many characteristics of Almaviva, nonetheless, expressed through its own personality.

"Refined sweet tobacco, black olives and hints of paprika, cedar, iron and anchovy-like savoriness. Refined sweet berries on the palate with a lovely savoriness. Medium-bodied and restrained, plush and generous, with fine tannins and a lengthy finish. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 10% carmenere, 3% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Drink or hold" - 95 points, James Suckling

"The 2022 Epu leads with a poised yet charmingly rustic nose of ripe red fruits flanked by herbaceous, leathery accents. The palate is concentrated and full-bodied, with an opulent, forward richness that transitions to a decedent, chocolate-tinged finish of rich tannins and a lingering herbal, menthol-laced conclusion. A well-made balance between style and place, this serves as a pleasurable and accessible introduction to the more poised, nuanced Almaviva. It's a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carménère, 3% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aged 12 months in 10% new French oak." - 93 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Producer: Viña Almaviva S.A.

Country: Chile

Region: Maipo Valley

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Merlot

Appellation: Puente Alto

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml