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.
Wine Description
Made from a blend of classic Bordeaux varieties, in which Cabernet Sauvignon predominates, Almaviva is the result of a felicitous encounter between two cultures.
Chile offers its soil, its climate and its vineyards, while France contributes its winemaking savoir-faire and traditions.
The result is an exceptionally elegant and complex wine. Its launch was a major milestone in the development of Chilean wines, both in Chile itself and in the international market.
Tasting notes
Plum red with a slight terracotta tint around the edges.
Perfumed with floral aromas and notes of smoky tobacco and loam. Dried rose petals and ripe plum evolve toward resin and leather. The whole is enveloped in aromas of fig conserves and bay leaf.
The attack is silky and balanced with nice, fresh, supple tannins. Dried flowers, pine bark and forest undergrowth. A very harmonious and ethereal wine with a long lasting and smooth finish.
A wonderful vintage.
Winemaking & Aging
 
The must is first cooled and the juice is left in contact with the skins in order to extract their rich color and aromas, then warmed before the alcoholic fermentation and final maceration take place. The Malolactic Fermentation occurs spontaneously, immediately before or just after the wine is drained off by gravity into new French oak barrels.
The skins and seeds are pushed into basket presses and lightly pressed to extract the press wine, which is added in small proportions to the final blend
Barrel Aging: 18 Months, New French Oak.
Terroir
Almaviva is located in the northern bank of the Maipo River 650 meters above sea level. It’s situated at the foot of the Andes cordillera, in the Maipo River basin.
Featured characteristics of Puente Alto include its rocky, poor soils, which consist of loamy clay down to 50 centimeters, sandy loam, gravel, and rocks below. These alluvial soils allow for proper drainage and impart minerality, as well as lower pH levels, resulting in extraordinary quality, balance and elegance.