2020 Almaviva Roth­schild Puente Alto

2020 Almaviva Rothschild Puente Alto is one of Chile’s true icon wines, a grand vin crafted in partnership between Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Mouton Rothschild) and Concha y Toro. This vintage once again confirms Almaviva’s place among the world’s great Bordeaux-style blends, with critics consistently scoring it in the mid-to-high 90s. Sourced from the famed Puente Alto terroir at the foot of the Andes, it marries Old World finesse with New World intensity in a deeply polished, ageworthy red.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2020 Almaviva is an intense, deep purple-ruby with a vivid, youthful rim that hints at its long life ahead. The nose is immediately expressive and layered: ripe blackcurrant and black cherry mingle with violets, dried rose petals, and the hallmark Chilean touch of fresh eucalyptus. With air, more complex notes emerge—subtle vanilla, dark chocolate, cedar, tobacco leaf, and a whisper of licorice and baking spice from its élevage in new French oak. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet impeccably balanced, with a velvety, almost creamy texture wrapped around a firm, graphite-like spine of structure. Plush, warm black fruit—cassis, blackberry compote, and plum—is framed by ultra-fine, cocoa-powder tannins that feel both luxurious and precise. Layers of bay leaf, dark chocolate, tobacco, and sweet spice add depth, while a fresh, mineral acidity keeps everything lifted and long. The finish is persistent, refined, and already very harmonious, but the concentration and structure suggest an excellent aging potential of 15–20 years or more in a good cellar, during which it will gain even greater complexity and aromatic nuance.

Production
Almaviva is produced from the Puente Alto vineyard in the Maipo Valley, one of Chile’s most renowned high-altitude terroirs, where poor, gravelly, alluvial soils and cool Andean breezes yield naturally low yields and intensely flavored grapes. The blend in 2020 is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Carmenère, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot—classic Bordeaux varieties that thrive in this site. All grapes are meticulously hand-harvested and sorted first by hand and then with optical (laser) technology to ensure only the finest berries make it into the fermenters. After gentle destemming and crushing, the must is transferred by gravity into temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks for fermentation, preserving purity and finesse. The wine is then aged for around 16–18 months in 100% new French oak barrels, where it gains its fine-grained structure, aromatic complexity, and polished texture without sacrificing the distinctive character of Puente Alto.

Food & Serving
The 2020 Almaviva is a natural match for refined, richly flavored dishes: think dry-aged ribeye, roast lamb with herbs, beef Wellington, slow-braised short ribs, or venison with a dark wine reduction. It also pairs beautifully with truffle-infused dishes, wild mushroom risotto, hard aged cheeses, and dishes accented by rosemary, thyme, or bay leaf, which echo the wine’s savory notes. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. Decanting is strongly recommended—about 1–2 hours for a young bottle—to allow the aromatics to unfurl and the tannins to soften; older bottles (10+ years) will benefit from a more gentle, shorter decant just to remove sediment.

Producer
Almaviva was founded in 1997 as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Château Mouton Rothschild and Chile’s Concha y Toro, with the vision of creating a Chilean first growth from a single, exceptional vineyard. Named after Count Almaviva, the central character in Beaumarchais’ play "Le Mariage de Figaro," the estate symbolises a bridge between French winemaking tradition and Chilean terroir. From the outset, Almaviva has been a benchmark for Puente Alto and for Chile as a whole, consistently earning top scores from leading critics—including 96/100 from Robert Parker for the 2020 vintage—and helping to cement Maipo Valley’s reputation as one of the world’s premier regions for Cabernet-based wines. Today, Almaviva stands as one of the most sought-after and collectible wines in South America, recognized for its elegance, longevity, and unmistakable signature style.

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