Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 14 Almaviva Cabernet is 68% Cabernet, 22% Carménère and 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The vines are 38 years of age. The wine spent 18 months in 75% new oak. The nose shows some slight funk at first. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black cherry cola/licorice and dark florals. The M+ tannins are soft and a little sticky. The fruits are slightly candied in style. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark chocolate, soft leather, crushed rocks, dark moist turned earth and dark fresh florals. The structure, length, tension, balance and finish are quiet beautiful. Producer history and notes...Almaviva began in 1997, as a joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. With the strengths of both families pedigree, they achieved international recognition with the the launch of their very first vintage. Their goal was to create the equivalent of Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé in Chile. Patrick Leon is their Winemaker and also makes Opus One & Mouton Rothschild. Almaviva is located in the Maipo Valley in Chile's central zone. Puente Alto has ideal conditions for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. Almaviva has 85 hectares. The climatic features of Puente Alto include its; stony soil, cold, rainy winters, and the hot days and cool nights of its summers. Maipo is considered Chile’s Napa Valley.
— 8 years ago

Michael Solway

9.3

2009 is singing! Rich, honeyed and full in the mouth, but still very fresh with plenty of lift and cut. The texture is much like a Meursault of the same age. Redolent of citrus and white peach with a nice mineral tang. — 9 years ago

Dave Genevro

9.4

Amazing signs of age...great light raisin color, seasoned tannin structure, great tart fruits with cranberries and cherries, generous spices and peppers. One of the greats I've had so far. Could easily go another five or six years. — 10 years ago

Raymond Rolander

9.5

2010 tasting beautiful with alittle age. Always a sucker for German Reilslings... — 10 years ago

Sarah Drake

9.6

This is one of my favorite Rieslings. It's got some age on it, and it is beautiful!! — 11 years ago

Fabien Lainé

Blogger VinDeling.com

9.4

Needs time to breath definitely, a big boy on black fruits for now, light baking spices note, nice tannins, still feels quite young, long finish, a port that will age lovely and sleep for ages in your cellar 😄 — 12 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.0

I finally got to try the "Coche" from Niepoort. It needs much more time in bottle to integrate that oak...very well made, but right now it's pretty compact...built for age, not speed. I can easily see this go up a few points in 3-4+ years. — 8 years ago

Sean Genn

9.5

Aged in Pedro Ximinez Sherry Casks. Best rum I've ever had. — 9 years ago

Yan Rivard

9.1

1939 magique de boire un aussi vieux vin qui a tenu la route — 10 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.1

6 years old. Spice box nose. Orange rind / citrus peel. Long finish. @Robert Pyle — 10 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.4

Niepoort Morgadio da Calcada Tawny Port
Clear with a medium tawny intensity, plenty of legs as expected.
Clean and developed nose with orange citrus, floral, walnuts, toffee and caramel.
The palate is medium sweet, with medium+ acidity, medium tannin, Hugh alcohol and a medium+ body. A complex palate that hints to the younger age of the wines in the blend with a medium+ flavor intensity as there are layers of flavors like red cherry covered in semi-sweet chocolate, toffee, with some stony minerality. The finish is fresh, long and complex with medium grain tannin and minerality duking it out with the flavors filling the gaps.
Outstanding quality lighter styled tawny port. — 10 years ago

Florian Bucher

10

Good end for a dinner :) — 11 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.3

Big for the portfolio, more what to you expect from the Douro, thus the name. But still impeccably balance, elegant at points. This should only lyrics deepen and broaden in complexity with bottle age. — 8 years ago

Scott Reiner

9.4

Excellent. Very sweet and precise. Rich, but not too rich. Sipping in the tropical sun. — 9 years ago

BurgundyFan

9.2

Never had such a young Baga yet ready, velour, round and elegant. More to red fruits than black fruits. 12% abv is also very civilized. This wine should age very nicely. Great surprise !! — 9 years ago

Mariusz Jurgielewicz

9.0

Very delicate and smooth. — 10 years ago

Silviu Antone

9.6

Great & fine — 10 years ago

Mark Squires

Writer Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

9.2

lovely Lbv, sexy and age worthy — 10 years ago

Rae Wilson

9.6

Brilliant and age-worthy from Dirk Niepoort — 12 years ago