The 2021 Almaviva is all about finesse and quiet confidence. This vintage walks the line between richness and restraint, offering layers of cassis, sweet tobacco, subtle spice, and polished tannins—all wrapped in a seamless, silky structure. The increased elegance reflects a stylistic refinement in recent years, and 2021 is considered one of the most balanced yet. It's already showing class in the glass, but will evolve beautifully with a few more years in the cellar.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 98
Published: Apr 24, 2023

A fresh and discreet Almaviva with subtle pencil shavings and cigar box to the cassis and hints of chili chocolate and peppermint. Nuanced and subtle on the nose. This is medium-bodied and subtle on the palate with silky tannins in the seamless finish. Very long. 71% cabernet sauvignon, 22% carmenere, 5% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but it will take its time to deliver complexity. 

Decanter | D 97
Published: Expert's Choice: South America's premium red blends
Drink: 2024-2040

Crafted by Michel Friou from a legendary vineyard in Puente Alto, this is a precise red blend that balances opulence with elegance. The nose delivers blackcurrant, cherry, redcurrant and liquorice aromas with hints of violets, eucalyptus, spice, and pencil shavings. Fleshy, with a juicy, energetic core and polished tannins that promise ageing potential. A classy, harmonious wine. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Carmenère, with dashes of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it was aged for 20 months in new French barrels.

The Wine Advocate | RP 96+
Published: Mar 13, 2025
Drink: 2027-2041

The 2021 Almaviva leads with a lively bouquet centered around black fruits, sweet tobacco, fresh herbs and well-integrated, high-quality oak. The palate is precise and coiled, finishing with a delicious combination of expansive, juicy sweetness framed by structured, finessed tannins that gradually gain grip with aeration. The seductive style at Almaviva dovetails very nicely with the effortlessness of this vintage, offering a darker, more open-knit drinking experience than the comparatively buttoned-up, red-fruited 2022. This is accessible now, but an additional two or three years in the cellar is recommended.

I had the pleasure of tasting three decades of Almaviva at the winery with Technical Director Michel Friou and CEO Manuel Louzada, supplemented with additional vintages at my home office. As I discovered with several renowned producers in Alto Maipo, recent advancements in aesthetic vision, age-worthiness and overall harmony are quite evident. A noticeable shift began with the 2018 vintage, where ripeness, extraction and oak integration experienced significant refinement that continues to this day.

To summarize the vertical, I found 2018 to be the most complete and nuanced iteration to date, with 2021 close behind it. The harvests of 2022 and 2019 both produced stellar wines, albeit with slightly more drying tannins and more assertive personalities. The 2016 and 2010 both offer the aromatic complexity and understated qualities of cooler vintages and sharply juxtapose the more flamboyant 2015. Although a bit past its prime, the inaugural 1996 vintage was charming and informative, while the 2003 showed just how far Almaviva has come in updating its viticulture and winemaking practices.

ETA: Jan 2024
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