Almaviva: Chile's Flagship Bordeaux-Style Icon

Almaviva emerged from a meeting at Vinexpo around 1995 between Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and the Guilisasti family of Concha y Toro. By 1997, the two families had sealed a formal 50/50 joint venture agreement, modeled consciously on the Rothschilds' earlier Napa collaboration with Robert Mondavi. Winemaking moved faster than the lawyers: the first vintage was actually 1996, though the partnership was signed in 1997 and the wine was launched commercially in 1998 via La Place de Bordeaux. That debut made history, as Almaviva became the first non-Bordeaux wine ever offered through La Place. Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, who had left a theatrical career to lead Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA after her father's death, oversaw the project until her passing on August 23, 2014; her three children continue the partnership with the Guilisasti family today.

• Partnership signed in 1997 between Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle; first vintage was 1996, commercially released in 1998
• Structured as a 50/50 joint venture, mirroring the model used for Opus One in Napa Valley, where the first vintage was also 1979
• Named after Count Almaviva, the hero of Beaumarchais' play The Marriage of Figaro; the name appears on the label in Beaumarchais' own handwriting
• First non-Bordeaux wine sold via La Place de Bordeaux, paving the way for over 100 international wines now distributed through the same network

Almaviva's 65-hectare vineyard lies in Puente Alto at the foot of the Andes cordillera, on the northern bank of the Maipo River at 650 meters above sea level. This elevated position in the upper Maipo Valley is widely recognized as one of the finest terroirs in the Southern Hemisphere for Cabernet Sauvignon. The soils are rocky and relatively poor, consisting of loamy clay down to about 50 centimeters, transitioning to sandy loam, gravel, and stones below. These alluvial soils provide excellent drainage, impart minerality, and produce lower pH levels that contribute to the wine's characteristic balance and elegance. The Andes exert a powerful cooling influence, delivering fresh breezes and a significant day-to-night temperature oscillation during ripening that preserves acidity and builds aromatic complexity.

• Located at 650 meters above sea level on the northern bank of the Maipo River, at the foot of the Andes cordillera
• Rocky, poor alluvial soils: loamy clay to 50 cm, transitioning to sandy loam, gravel, and stones below, providing excellent drainage and minerality
• Andes cooling influence creates significant diurnal temperature variation, preserving freshness and acidity through ripening
• Puente Alto is recognized as one of the Southern Hemisphere's premier Cabernet Sauvignon terroirs

Almaviva is built on Cabernet Sauvignon, consistently the dominant variety in the blend. Carmenère is the key supporting grape, typically sourced from both Puente Alto and Almaviva's parcels in Peumo in the Cachapoal Valley, where the variety achieves particularly expressive herbal character and density. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot complete the blend; Merlot was added beginning with the 2006 vintage and Petit Verdot from 2010. Blend proportions shift meaningfully with each vintage: the 2018 was 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Carmenère, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot, while the 2021 was 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Carmenère, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine is aged approximately 18 months in French oak barrels, with a high proportion of new oak, before bottling.

• Cabernet Sauvignon dominant in every vintage, complemented by Carmenère as the principal supporting variety
• Carmenère sourced from both Puente Alto and Peumo (Cachapoal Valley), adding herbal freshness and mid-palate richness
• Blend also includes Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot; proportions vary meaningfully by vintage reflecting seasonal conditions
• Aged approximately 18 months in French oak barrels before bottling; early vintages were made at Concha y Toro's facility before the dedicated winery opened in 2000

Since its debut, Almaviva has built one of the most consistent critical track records of any wine in the Southern Hemisphere. James Suckling awarded both the 2015 and 2017 vintages 100 points, naming the 2015 his Wine of the Year in 2018 and the 2017 his Wine of the Decade in 2020. The 2018 and 2020 vintages each earned 98 points from Suckling, while the 2021 received 98 points from Suckling and 97 points from Jane Anson. The Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator have consistently awarded the wine scores in the mid-to-high 90s across multiple recent releases. Almaviva has also been a regular presence in the sale catalogues of the world's leading wine auction houses, reflecting genuine collector demand.

• 2015 and 2017 vintages both received 100 points from James Suckling; 2015 was his Wine of the Year (2018), 2017 his Wine of the Decade (2020)
• 2018 and 2020 vintages scored 98 points (James Suckling); 2021 scored 98 points (James Suckling) and 97 points (Jane Anson)
• Consistently rated in the mid-to-high 90s by Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator across recent vintages
• Regular presence at major international wine auctions, reflecting sustained collector demand beyond its release price

The dedicated Almaviva winery in Puente Alto was designed by Chilean architect Martín Hurtado, built in 1998, and inaugurated in 2000; the earliest vintages were vinified at Concha y Toro's nearby facility. The winery was conceived as a perfect integration of aesthetic design and functionality, with a curving roof that mirrors the silhouette of the Andes and an interior referencing Mapuche cultural symbols. Total annual production is approximately 200,000 bottles from 85 hectares, with 65 hectares in Puente Alto and 14 hectares in Peumo. The second wine, Epu, represents around one third of total production and has been sold via La Place de Bordeaux since its 2019 vintage. Head winemaker Michel Friou, a Frenchman with extensive Chilean experience including at Casa Lapostolle, has led production since the 2007 vintage.

• Winery designed by architect Martín Hurtado, built in 1998 and inaugurated in 2000; a complete renovation was completed recently
• Total production approximately 200,000 bottles annually from 85 hectares, including 65 ha in Puente Alto and 14 ha in Peumo (Cachapoal Valley)
• Second wine Epu, meaning 'two' in the Mapuche language, has been sold via La Place de Bordeaux since the 2019 vintage
• Head winemaker Michel Friou has led production since the 2007 vintage, preceded by Patrick Léon (Mouton's technical director) and Tod Mostero (2004-2007)

Almaviva in its youth presents dark cassis, blackberry, graphite, cedar, and black pepper on the nose, often with a herbal freshness from Carmenère and the Andes-cooled terroir. On the palate, fine-grained, polished tannins frame a rich, layered mid-palate without sacrificing freshness or structure. The wine shows notable balance between power and elegance, a hallmark that winemaker Michel Friou and his predecessors have consistently pursued. According to James Suckling's vertical tasting experience, the wine really comes into its own about 10 to 12 years after bottling, with older vintages developing tertiary complexity including earth, tobacco, leather, and spice alongside the wine's enduring mineral core. The 2021 vintage tasting notes across critics highlight blackberry, cassis, camphor, graphite, and fine-grained tannins leading to a long, ripe finish.

• Primary aromas: cassis, blackberry, graphite, cedar, camphor, and herbal freshness from Carmenère
• Fine-grained, polished tannins with a rich mid-palate; balance between power and elegance is a consistent stylistic signature
• Optimal drinking window typically begins 10 to 12 years post-vintage, with tertiary development of earth, tobacco, and leather over time
• Recent vintages have shown 14-15% alcohol, reflecting the warm conditions of Alto Maipo while remaining well-integrated in top years