2009 Almaviva

Confected black fruit plus herbal notes. Admirably stylistic but the green character is too prominent for me. Nevertheless, it seems intentional and well made enough. (RH)

The 2009 Almaviva is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Carmenere, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot and likewise, aged in new French oak for 18 months. It has impressive clarity on the nose with blackberry, briary and espresso aromas that are well defined, but not as intense as previous vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a powdery texture and crisp blackberry laced with espresso towards the firm, quite masculine, dry finish. It will need three of four years to coalesce and mellow. Drink 2015-2025. ||The collaboration between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Vina Concha y Toro caused waves back in the late 1990s, a token of recognition for the progress of Chilean wines from one of Bordeaux’s grandees. Since the debut in 1998 it has achieved acclaim from around the world. eRobertParker.com.December, 2012

2009 was a warm, early and ripe vintage with high yields and bigger bunches, and that's reflected in the 2009 Almaviva, which shows more austere and undeveloped than the 2005 I tasted next to it. It combines power and concentration with elegance and has a little more extraction and plenty of powdery, dusty tannins. It's not the most concentrated vintage; it seems more on the elegant side. Oct 2018, www.robertparker.com