Almaviva is a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Chilean group Concha y Toro created in 1996. As Michel Friou, chief winemaker at the estate, comments, Almaviva was born using the French chateau concept where all facilities and enological teams focus on the production of one wine. In the case of Almaviva, it was to create a wine that would represent the region of Puente Alto using the French expertise.
The estate is located about a half hour from the center of Santiago de Chile, and the area known as Puente Alto produces outstanding cabernet sauvignon. The soils are of alluvial origin and the valley, which is in the vicinity of the Andes, has a slightly cooler climate than the rest of the region. The idea here, explains Michel, is to make wines with the ripeness that characterizes the area but also with the right amount of freshness. Puente Alto is a late ripening terroir where ripeness is extended and where optimal phenolic ripeness is often achieved.
Don't forget to read James' recent blog on the just released 2012 vintage.
-JGAL
