Almiviva 2010

Almaviva is the name given to the wine that is the collaboration between Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Vina Concha y Toro of Chile starting in 1997. A vineyard of some 85 ha was established in the Puenta Alto area of the Maipo Valley planting Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties for this wine. The fruit is hand harvested in small trays before destemming and a light crushing to release juices for fermentation in temperature controlled steel tanks. The wine is matured in new French oak for some 16-18 months before egg white fining prior to bottling. I tasted this wine at this year's Wine and Dine. Deep ruby with a Ribena rich berry nose, it was sweet blackcurrant fruity on the palate, with tannic acid backbone (a touch salty) for support.