The 2021 Almaviva, a proprietary blend from the Maipo Valley in Chile, is a red wine with a significant presence of Cabernet Sauvignon (71%), complemented by Carmenere (22%), Cabernet Franc (5%), and Petit Verdot (2%). With an alcohol content of 15.0%, this vintage has garnered high praise from several prominent wine reviewers.
James Suckling awarded the 2021 Almaviva a score of 98, noting its "subtle pencil shavings and cigar box" aromas, intertwined with cassis and hints of chili chocolate and peppermint. Suckling describes the wine as "nuanced and subtle on the nose" and "medium-bodied and subtle on the palate with silky tannins in the seamless finish." He highlights its potential for complexity over time, though it is drinkable now (jamessuckling.com, 4/24/2023).
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave this wine a 96+ score, emphasizing the cooler climate of 2021, which resulted in more elegant wines with finesse and less angular tannins. The review points out the wine's 20 months of aging in French oak barrels, 71% of which were new. The Advocate describes the wine as "dark, ripe and spicy" with "mellow acidity" and a "little shy, less expressive than the warmer years." The review suggests that its tannins will benefit from further aging in the bottle, indicating significant potential for future development (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 8/31/2023).
Vinous gave the 2021 Almaviva a score of 96, praising its garnet color with a purple sheen and an enticing nose of blackberry, cassis marmalade, black and green pepper, ashes, camphor, and cigar box aromas. The palate is described as "indulgent and rich," with "taut, fine-grained tannins, velvet texture, and balanced acidity," leading to a "long, ripe finish." The review underscores the wine's nuanced depth and richness, promising further development with aging (Vinous, 6/1/2023).
Wine Spectator also rated this wine 96, calling it a "real head-turner" with notes of Mexican spiced chocolate and crème de cassis. The review highlights its "sleek yet rich core" and flavors of "pepper and graphite-laced berry, cassis, and damson plum," all underpinned by fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins. The review suggests it will drink well through 2043 (Wine Spectator, 12/6/2023).
In summary, the 2021 Almaviva is a complex and elegant red wine with high aging potential, characterized by its rich, nuanced flavors and well-integrated tannins.