Epu by Almaviva - 2023

The second wine from the Almaviva estate in Chile's Puento Alto region comes from the estate's youngest vines. Its name, EPU, comes from the Mapudungun language and means number two in the original language of the Mapuche people, a tribe in Chile.

Created from four Grape Varieties, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon, EPU has the same qualities as its elder Almaviva, thanks to the characteristics of the very rocky terroir, the wet and icy winters and the very hot summers. Also very complex, the EPU has a deep ruby colour and a nose with aromas of wild raspberries, sweet pepper, tea leaves and cinnamon. On the palate, it remains concentrated, with a dominant Cabernet Sauvignon note and its recognisable forest berries. The finish is persistent and flavoursome with hints of vanilla. Delicious with a piece of beef or a pasta dish, the EPU is among the top twenty Chilean wines.

The Almaviva winery is located on the north bank of the Maipo river, in the heights of the Maipo valley, where the town of Puente Alto has been home to the first vines since 1978. It was in this magical place in Chile at the foot of the Andes Mountains that the Philippine Baroness de Rothschild and Eduardo Guilisasti Tagle of Viña Concha y Toro S.A. signed a cooperation agreement in 1997 to create this exceptional Franco-Chilean wine.

Combining the know-how of both partners, the first vintage was tasted a year later and was an immediate and international success. The name and logo are also the fruit of a perfect union: Almaviva being the name of the Count in the Marriage of Figaro by Beaumarchais, taken up by Mozart, the calligraphy used is that of Beaumarchais himself, celebrating the French genius. As for the logo, it is the emblem of the Mapuche culture, the sign representing the cosmos, giving thanks to Chile's ancestral history.

In order to respect the culture of the Bordeaux vineyards, Almaviva is the first Chilean wine to be produced in a real Château (although in the typical style of a bodega), but whose cellars have been built following an undulating pattern to remind us of the Andes Cordillera. The interior of the Grand Chai is decorated with Mapuche symbols.

With 60 hectares of vines, Almaviva is made up mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon (the stony, arid soil of clay, silt and sand of Puente Alto is considered the most suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon). However, other grape varieties are also present, such as Carménère, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.

As Puente Alto is located at 650 metres above sea level, the climate is sometimes harsh, cool breezes blow through the Maipo Valley and large temperature differences are noticeable between day and night, encouraging a long and homogenous ripening process. Humidity is scarce, preventing the spread of vine diseases and allowing the Cabernet Sauvignon to reach its full potential. The result of the blend of Chilean soil, climate, vineyards and French know-how is a unique, powerful, exceptional wine. Once bottled, Almaviva is sent back to Bordeaux, from where it will be shipped everywhere else, offering the best of both worlds to all amateurs.