Die Familie Rothschild erobert erneut den amerikanischen Kontinent. Der kalifornische Opus One, ein gemeinsames Projekt mit Mondavi, ist bereits eine Legende. Der Almaviva, ein Joint Venture mit Concha y Toro, hat sich ebenfalls schon jetzt zu einem Kultwein entwickelt.
Auch dieser Wein wird bald eine lebende Legende sein, so herausragend ist seine Qualität und so begrenzt die Menge. Er setzt den Maßstab für chilenische Cabernets. Die etwa 40 Hektar Weinberge werden sorgfältig mit Tröpfchenbewässerung gepflegt. Auch im Keller wird mit modernster Technik gearbeitet. Der Stardesigner Martín Hurtado entwarf den beeindruckenden Holzkeller. Die Bordeaux-Cuvée besteht aus Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc und Carmenère. Die Gärung erfolgt in neutralen Stahltanks, und der Ausbau findet in französischen Barriques statt. Hier entsteht edelste Handwerkskunst, die ihre Qualität visionären Investoren verdankt.
96 Punkte Robert Parker
2021 was an overall cooler year than 2020, with more elegant wines with more finesse and less angular tannins. The sleek 2021 Almaviva is a good example of that, still very young and still marked by the élevage in oak after spending 20 months in French oak barrels, 71% of them new and the rest only second use. The final blend was 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Carmenere (from Peumo), 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, a variety that might gain in percentage, as they have even planted some more with the idea to possibly replace Merlot in the medium or long term. It's not a shy wine, hitting the scale at 15% alcohol and with mellow acidity, 4.65 grams (tartaric) and a pH of 3.81 The fruit is dark, ripe and spicy, nothing green about it; it's a little shy, less expressive than the warmer years are early on and a little more discreet but with potential to develop in bottle. The tannins are still present, and it should benefit from some more time in bottle. The 2019 had more volume than the 2018, and the 2020 is closer to the 2019 than the 2018. 200,000 bottles produced. It was bottled between late January and early February 2023. I tasted it next to the 2020 and 2018, and it's closer to the latter; but this 2021 is more elegant, and 2018 is a little more austere and herbal. 96/100
98 Punkte James Suckling
A fresh and discreet Almaviva with subtle pencil shavings and cigar box to the cassis and hints of chili chocolate and peppermint. Nuanced and subtle on the nose. This is medium-bodied and subtle on the palate with silky tannins in the seamless finish. Very long. 71% cabernet sauvignon, 22% carmenere, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but it will take its time to deliver complexity. 98/100
