Almaviva EPU 2021

【智利酒王： Almaviva】

Almaviva EPU係智利四大酒王之一 Almaviva 「活靈魂」既副牌酒，同正牌酒同樣來自Puente Alto既葡萄園，不過樹齡較年幼，平均約 12 年。2021年對于Maipo地區來講，冬季氣溫偏暖，但1月同2月明顯涼爽。呢個年份嘅酒整體更精緻、濃縮度較低，兼具細緻度、精準感同優雅氣質；風格更接近2018年‘。

TASTING NOTE BY WINE CRITICS

Their second wine, the 2021 Epu is from the same terroir and vineyard in Puente Alto as Almaviva but comes from the younger vines, around 12 years on average. In 2021, the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere and 5% Merlot (no Cabernet Franc this year). It has a ripe and heady nose, with 14.68% alcohol (15% on the label), mellow acidity and intense notes of red peppers, ripe blackberries and cassis and some spiciness from the oak. It matured for one year in French barriques, only 10% new and 90% second use. It has a little less structure and softer tannins, making it more approachable than previous years, a profile that seems to be the signature of the year. It’s medium to full-bodied with velvety, more polished tannins, and it is more delicate and less concentrated, with more finesse. But I find these quite homogeneous and regular, this year with no raisins or dehydrated grapes, and in this vintage, it feels open and expressive. 80,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2023.

RATING BY WINE CRITICS

94+ Points by Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Adovocate, 2023