2015 Vina Almaviva

Located in the highest part of Maipo Valley, in Chile’s central zone, Puente Alto was recognized over twenty years ago as offering ideal conditions for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. It is here that 60 hectares have been reserved exclusively for Almaviva. THE SOIL Featured characteristics of Puente Alto include its rocky, poor soils, which consist of loamy clay down to 50 centimeters, sandy loam, gravel, and rocks below. These alluvial soils allow for proper drainage and impart minerality, as well as lower pH levels, resulting in extraordinary quality, balance and elegance.

The 2015 harvest conditions in Maipo Valley were marked by a drier than average winter, with a cumulative 243 mm of rainfall from May to September 2014. The period from mid-November to mid-December was cooler and cloudier than the first two weeks of November and all of October, which were warm, dry and sunny. Fortunately these lower temperatures that occurred at the end of flowering did not affect the future production of the vines. Actually all the varieties showed a rather high production potential, forcing important cluster thinning on most of the varieties to reduce their yields. Summer was particularly hot and dry, with high temperatures from mid-December until the third week of March. The veraison started earlier than expected, as well as the harvest of the first batch of Merlot, which was picked on March 16th, two weeks earlier than usual. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were then harvested between April 1st and May 13th, taking advantage of the progressive temperature decrease,

Composed of two rooms with stainless steel tanks adapted to the size of each vineyard parcel, the vinification room is where the maceration and alcoholic fermentation take place. The must is first cooled and the juice is left in contact with the skins in order to extract their rich color and aromas, then warmed before the alcoholic fermentation and final maceration take place. The Malolactic Fermentation occurs spontaneously, immediately before or just after the wine is drained off by gravity into new French oak barrels. The skins and seeds are pushed into basket presses and lightly pressed to extract the press wine, which is added in small proportions to the final blend.

The 2015 vintage of Almaviva captivates, complete with its opaque red brilliance and powerful, complex nose. An alliance of ripe fruit and subtle floral aromas permeate before leaving place to caramel, licorice and graphite notes. The multitude of aromas continues with a sumptuous, well-balanced expression on the palate. A juicy attack of ripe fruit, such as raspberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry is framed by a broad structure with fine, polished, velvety tannins, well blended with flavors of vanilla and cocoa. The finish is silky, yet slightly mineral. The harvest of 2015 is an exquisite combination of complexity and harmony, a superb vintage to celebrate Almaviva’s twentieth anniversary.