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Almaviva Red Epu Maipo Valley 2019  - First Bottle

Reviews

94 James Suckling -
Aromas of blueberries, blackberries and fresh flowers. Very cool and pure. Medium-bodied with fine, linear and very integrated tannins that are compressed and silky-textured. New second wine of Almaviva. Needs time to open. Try after 2024.
93+ Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
The first truly international release of the second wine is going to be the 2019 Epu, which has changed image and label, looking a little more like Almaviva, and is going to be sold through the Bordeaux négoce. 2019 was a very dry vintage, and the blend is 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Carmenere, 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc with slightly higher alcohol than 2018 and with lower acidity, matured in used barriques for one year. In terms of freshness, the wine is quite similar to the 2018 that I tasted next to it, obviously a little younger, quite intense and fruit-driven, spicy and herbal, with a creamy texture and fine-grained tannins. It's a second wine, but they also want to do something different and Epu is perhaps a little more classical, perhaps this is more Bordeaux and Almaviva is more Chilean. 70,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2020 and January 2021.
93 Wine Spectator -
This red offers ripe plum and cherry cordial flavors up front, revealing layers of nuance as it unfolds, including intriguing orange zest, Calabrian chili and olive notes. Presents a fresh, minerally acidity midpalate that pushes all the flavors to the finish, with zesty but firm tannins and echoes back to the opening flavors. Shows tremendous length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenère, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028. 3,500 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Technical Details

  • Blend84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Carmenere, 2% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
  • WinemakerMichel Friou
  • CountryChile
  • RegionMaipo Valley
  • AppellationPuente Alto
  • Alcohol15%

Almaviva Red Epu Maipo Valley 2019

Bordeaux Blends  |  Chile
JS94, WA93+, WS93

26% off retail!

Welcome, for the first time in North America, Almaviva’s “Epu” red blend. When two of the greatest houses of their respective countries combine their centuries of experience, wisdom, and creativity to fashion a wine… you’d best take note. Such has been the case of Almaviva - a Franco-Chilean endeavor that has been sought with fervor by the most impassioned collectors for nearly two decades. The flagship wine has years of critical praise and has inspired a frenzy of Indiana Jones level treasure seekers, while still remaining relatively off-the-radar in the wine world at large (check our write-up on big brother, here).

We expect all that to change, in a big way, with the first international release of “Epu”. Technically, it’s a second label, but think more along the lines of Screaming Eagle’s “The Flight” or Scarecrow’s “M. Etain”... this is a serious wine, with spectacular pedigree and the full attention and artistry of the winemaking team. Weighing in at 84% cabernet sauvignon, 13% carmenere, 2% merlot and 1% cabernet franc, this wine is sure to inspire enthusiasts all its own. Less ripe than its sibling, this wine showcases the nuance and delicate notes of a fine Bordeaux. Blue fruits, fresh flowers, and a Mediterranean spice market highlight the aromas, with silky tannins and casual elegance building through to the wine’s glorious crescendo. A single year in once-used barrels keeps things both fresh and creamy, with the perfect drink-me-now or drink-me-later appeal.

The vineyards are high elevation, with rocky and loamy soils providing additional stress to complement the region’s Mediterranean climate. Hot days and cool nights help preserve the grapes’ acidity throughout the growing season—allowing for both power and elegance to balance the resulting wine. Wow, deja vu! That is exactly what you’d say about Howell Mountain… or Pritchard Hill, Atlas Peak, Stagecoach or a handful of other spots found here in the best of Napa’s Hillside Vineyards. It couldn’t possibly be a coincidence!

Did we mention $55?!?! Early adopters, value collectors, and wine lovers in general… you need some of this wine! Hardly any to be had, so go, go, GO!

PAIRING IDEAS: Ever heard the phrase "What grows together, goes together”? These Empanadas de Pino are point-in-fact proof of that. Ground beef, onions, olives, raisins and hard-boiled eggs make THE authentic Chilean snack.

MUSIC SUGGESTIONS: Almaviva is named for the Count and hero in Beaumarchais classic “The Marriage of Figaro”. Mozart made it into a comedic opera, but you’ve heard this tune in countless modern films. “Trading Places” for me!

About the Producer

In 1997, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle, Chairman of Viña Concha y Toro S.A., sealed a partnership agreement with a view to create an exceptional Franco-Chilean wine called Almaviva. Produced under the joint technical supervision of both partners, the first vintage achieved immediate international success upon its launch in 1998.