ALMAVIVA

The elegance of a complex and generous Chilean superstar . Produced by the prestigious Viña Almaviva estate, the Almaviva 2016 embodies the excellence of Bordeaux’s wine-growing tradition in what was an exceptional vintage in Chile.

The 2016 growing season began with a very dry winter, consisting only of 193 mm of rainfall from May to September 2015. June was completely dry, followed by significant rain, 119 mm in August alone. The following spring presented colder and rainier conditions than usual, especially from mid-September to mid-November, which generated less bunches and some “coulure” on the Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère vines. Summer was particularly hot and dry, specifically in December and February. Temperatures sharply decreased in March, while April encountered unusually heavy rain on April 16-17 and 23-24, summing 109 mm in the Puente Alto vineyards.

Although the growing cycle was rather delayed with most of the phenological stages occurring later than usual, these atypical climatic conditions obliged us to anticipate and accelerate the harvest, which initially started slowly on March 29th, first with the Merlot, and finally ended in a faster pace on May 6th, which was two weeks earlier than usual.

The speed and precision of our harvesting teams to pick healthy Cabernets and Carmenère grapes after the rains, along with the optical selection and strict, careful monitoring of the vinifications in the winery allowed us to produce very promising, elegant and accessible wines, rich in fruit, freshness and character, in line with our great terroir of Puente Alto.