EPU 2nd wine of Almaviva - Puento Alto, Maipo Valley 2021 Bottle

Description

The 2021 Epu from Almaviva is a polished, approachable Bordeaux-style blend, earning 94+ points from The Wine Advocate. Made from 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenère, and 5% Merlot from younger vines, it offers a ripe, heady nose of blackberries, cassis, red peppers, and oak spice. Aged one year in French barriques, it features velvety tannins, finesse, and a medium to full body. James Suckling scores it 94 points, describing its cassis, lead pencil, and red chili peppers with silky, soft tannins, ideal for drinking now. Jancis Robinson awarded 16++, praising its succulence, ripe character, and long, gentle fruit fade. VinoUS highlights its richness, layered aromas, and bold, flavorful profile, making it a refined yet powerful Chilean red with great aging potential.

*****

THE WINE ADVOCATE 94+ points
Drink Date: 2024 - 2030
"Their second wine, the 2021 Epu is from the same terroir and vineyard in Puente Alto as Almaviva but comes from the younger vines, around 12 years on average. In 2021, the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carmenere and 5% Merlot (no Cabernet Franc this year). It has a ripe and heady nose, with 14.68% alcohol (15% on the label), mellow acidity and intense notes of red peppers, ripe blackberries and cassis and some spiciness from the oak. It matured for one year in French barriques, only 10% new and 90% second use. It has a little less structure and softer tannins, making it more approachable than previous years, a profile that seems to be the signature of the year. It's medium to full-bodied with velvety, more polished tannins, and it is more delicate and less concentrated, with more finesse. But I find these quite homogeneous and regular, this year with no raisins or dehydrated grapes, and in this vintage, it feels open and expressive. 80,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2023." - Luis Gutiérrez

JAMES SUCKLING 94 points
Fresh and subtle nose with cassis, lead pencil and some red chili peppers. A hint of lavender and cedar. This is quite supple on the palate with a medium body and silky, soft tannins. Pretty generous and flattering. 80% cabernet sauvignon, 15% carmenere and 5% merlot. Drink now. - Zekun Shuai

JANCIS ROBINSON 16++ points
Cassis, black cherry, oak-smoked spice, slightest leafy scent. Sumptuous, luxurious, sculpted style – flawlessly ripe. Succulent and rounded on the palate, with filigree tannins and fresh acid. Long, slow fruit fade-out on the length. (RH)

VINOUS 93 points
The 2021 Epu is a Bordeaux blend based on Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto in the Metropolitan region. It was aged in barrels for a year. Garnet with a purple sheen. The nuanced nose unfolds over an oak bed with ashes, pepper, cassis, and green pepper notes. Indulgent and rich on the palate, the fine-grained tannins and the juicy and overwhelming mouthfeel lead to an ample and flavorful ripe finish. The Chilean Cab style, powerful and bold, guides this red. - Joaquín Hidalgo