Vintage

After a long period of drought during the previous cycle, the rains came back in winter to initiate the vintage 2021 with excellent auspices. 2020. The rainfall of 170 mm registered between May and August 2020 was almost 3 times more than the year before, although lower than the historical average of 267 mm. The following months were totally dry, until it surprisingly rained at the end of January 2021, with 54 mm of rainfall at mid-veraison. We had then, fortunately, not any new rain until the end of the harvest.

Spring was warm, with budding and owering occurring 5-7 days earlier than average. Then, Summer was cool, especially after the unexpected rain of January. The average summer temperature was 1°C lower than average, and 1,5°C lower than 2020.

The January rain was key to homogenize the ripening process of the grapes, above all after a heterogeneous flowering and fruit set. Although the date of the first stages could have hinted at an early harvest, the picking operations started on March 24th at a normal date, slowly at the beginning, to suddenly increase its pace the second week of April and finally end earlier than usual, on April 30th in Puente Alto, and May 14th in Peumo.

The cooler conditions from January to harvest generated an optimal ripening process, great fruit and freshness in the grapes, tension, length, and perfect balance in the wines. An exceptional and unique vintage with great acidity and persistency.

About the wine

Almaviva EPU 2021 is the second wine from the prestigious Chilean estate Viña Almaviva, located in Puente Alto, in the Maipo Valley. Released in 2023, it combines elegance with accessibility, making it an excellent introduction to the world of premium Chilean wines.

🍇 Composition and Winemaking
The blend consists of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere, and 5% Merlot. The grapes come from younger vines (around 12 years old) grown in the same terroir as the flagship Almaviva wine. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, of which 10% were new and 90% previously used.

👃 Aroma
The wine offers a vibrant and expressive nose with notes of blackcurrant, red pepper, lavender, and cedar, complemented by subtle hints of spice and wood.

👄 Palate
On the palate, EPU 2021 is medium-bodied with velvety, well-structured tannins. It shows a balance of freshness and ripeness, featuring vivid fruit notes and a delicate spicy finish.

🏅 Critical Acclaim
Wine Advocate: 94+ points

James Suckling: 94 points

Vinous: 93 points

Wine Spectator: 92 points

Jane Anson: 92 points

🍽 Serving Suggestions
Best decanted 1 hour before serving. Serve at 15°C. Ideal with red meats such as beef or lamb.

🕰 Ageing Potential
EPU 2021 has good ageing potential and can develop in the bottle for 5–10 years.