2014 Almaviva Puente Alto Red

A Cabernet Sauvignon mixed with 22% Carménère, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot from Puente Alto, Maipo that spent 18 months in French barrels. Very dark maroon in the glass. The alcoholic nose gives off black currants and blueberries with hints of hazelnuts and pepper. High-impact, voluminous, reactive tannins and a hint of smoke flow across the palate, leaving a trail of dark fruit behind.

I retasted the 2014 Almaviva next to the current 2015 and 2016 for comparison's sake. 2014 is considered a very good year in the powerful and concentrated way. In Puente Alto, they didn't have problems with frost, but yields were some of the lowest in recent times. This vintage has more alcohol (the label reads 15% alcohol). It's developing at a slow pace—it still has some lactic notes that denote youth—and should have a long life ahead in the bottle. This could be a long-distance runner of a vintage; in fact, it remains more closed than the rest of recent vintages.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carmenère, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot. Rich and polished and very well made. Quite balanced and surely some cooperage share with Mouton? Really very good wine by any measure. Long and subtle. (JR)