Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Almaviva (EPU) – Blend – 2022
Puente Alto – Chile 🇨🇱

Overview
The second wine from the Franco-Chilean partnership at Almaviva. The 2022 EPU is cabernet-dominated yet crafted for approachability. The blend reads approx. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carménère, 3% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 
It delivers a more accessible expression compared to the flagship Almaviva, with plenty of power and Chilean terroir signature.

Aromas & Flavors
Cassis and blackberry liqueur wrapped with violets, graphite, cedar spice and a touch of mocha. The ripeness stands out, yet the freshness and terroir voice anchor it.

Mouthfeel
Deep and plush, yet polished. Velvety tannins and a full core of dark fruit make it substantial , but it remains more approachable than the top-tier bottling. Strong finish with good momentum.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, aged lamb chops, porcini risotto with truffle, or char-grilled vegetables with smoked paprika.

Verdict
An expressive, polished, and beautifully balanced blend. While it leans toward powerhouse, the finesse, lift and Chilean elegance make it stand out. A top pick in its category.

Did You Know?
“EPU” means “two” in Mapuche (indigenous Chilean language) and represents Almaviva’s second label, crafted from the same estate terroir as the flagship bottling. — 24 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.2

Deep , opaque violet ruby , with a thin violet rim . Quite dense and closed at first , deep plum , blackberry , meaty , chocolate , dark cherry , with a stony , granite note . On the palate this is dense dark blackberry , earthy plum , liquorice and cacau destes dark cherry . High tannin, really quite firm and gritty , fresh acidity and just balanced alcohol. Good gritty herbal and granite stained finish . This is very young and quite concentrated in style , lots of tannin to round out , but there is lots of stuffing here too . Come back in 5-10 years perhaps and will last well a further 5-10. — 6 months ago

Neal Ferry

9.1

Very nice for a sub $20 bottle….quite enjoyable — 3 years ago

Joe Flo

9.6

Wine Spectator #1 wine dinner. With a good decanting this was a great wine. 🍷 — 2 months ago

Jason Phillips

9.2

Wonderful nose. Light color, almost like a Pinot. Very balanced, coating the palate. Higher acidity but smooth finish. — 5 months ago

Julius Rifkin

9.5

This wine had a big and complex personality for one that was medium-bodied. It was very juicy and jammy, with flavors of black cherry, plum, and blackberry jam. I was taken by how much I enjoyed this one straight away after pulling the cork, so the rating may be a tad on the generous side, but it was still a great bottle! 100% Mourvèdre. 3/31/25. — 9 months ago

Jess

9.0

Pale lemon color.
Aromas of passionfruit, honeydew, honeysuckle.
Dry. Flavors of passionfruit, honeydew, honeysuckle.

Intensity: 5/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — 2 years ago

Ron R

9.4

Close friend gifted us this over 15 years ago. This has stood still and I’m loving it. Typical Bdx profile displaying saddle leather, wood and smoke from the barrel toast. Tannins are moderate and standing tall. Outstanding in my book. — 5 months ago

with Anne-marie

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Well, this confirmed it! Mexican wine is the new tequila! Nice wine upon opening it. A bit off balance, but.. wow after corn chips and tacos, this wine was singing!!! Amazing pairing. As you might know, my wife and I and our daughters created Spoken Wines, where we travel the world to discover the stories behind exceptional wine. A few years back we explored Baja California and were introduce to their quality wines. Check out our YouTube channel to experience it yourself. Cheers! Oh, and please subscribe to support wine story telling 🙏🙏 — 5 months ago

with Tammy

Juan Pablo Perez

9.1

Nariz: flores blancas, albaricoque, melon, miel, piedra volcanica

Boca: Acidez M, Alcohol M-

Nariz muy fragante — 2 years ago