2010 Almaviva

I was quite taken with the 2010 Almaviva, the product of a very cool, immensely challenging vintage that concluded with an extremely late harvest that lasted until May, including a historic 8.8-magnitude earthquake and tsunami in February. It marks the first vintage of Petit Verdot's inclusion in the blend and coincides with an increased focus on the strength of cooler vintages in Alto Maipo. The nose offers a beautiful medley of mature dark fruits, dried flowers, underbrush, dried mint and cocoa powder, introducing a plush yet buoyant and immensely finessed palate. It concludes with an even-keeled, gently rich finish framed by lifted acidity and discreet tannic grip. Despite the difficulties of this harvest, the end result was a clear favorite in this tasting; I doubt it will measurably improve from this point, but it should continue to drink well for another five years.

The joint venture between Mouton-Rothschild and Concha y Toro. Blackish crimson. Rich, sweet, brambly nose. Hints of tea leaves. Interesting! Very mellow and ripe on the front palate and then it’s nicely zipped up to retain the refreshment factor on the finish. Zesty and quite serious and intriguing. Succulent. (JR)

The 2010 Almaviva is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend complemented with Carmenere, Cabernet Franc, and for the first time in 2010, a small quantity of Petit Verdot. 2010 was a cool vintage, giving the wine an herbaceous character with good freshness and balance. It is still young with some lactic notes and some aromas derived from the elevage (roasted coffee and dark chocolate), with terse black fruit and some beef blood overtones. This vintage seems to be a worthy follower of the 2005, with sweet round tannins, intense flavors, very good balance and the stuffing to live a long life in bottle. Drink 2015-2025. Jun 2014, www.robertparker.com