- Almaviva 2019 has been released internationally for £1,296 (12×75).
- It has solid scores from leading critics.
- There is potential value to be had in some back vintages.
The 2019 vintage of Almaviva has been released for €105 per bottle ex-négociant, 9.3% more than the opening price of the 2018.
The wine is being offered by merchants for around £1,296 per 12×75, 8% more than the current Market Price of the 2018 (£1,200).
Critical opinion
The wine has received strong scores from leading critics. Luis Gutiérrez at the Wine Advocate rated it 95+. He paid particular attention to the Carmenere element of the blend this year.
He said: “Here, the Carmenere adds herbal freshness and changes the aromatic profile when compared with the 2019 Epu. 2019 was a good year for Carmenere, which suffers in extremely warm years like 2017, but in moderately warm years like 2019, the variety displays that herbal character and has good density.”
James Suckling scored it 97-points, commenting: “The aromas of iodine and blackcurrants with roses and lavender make the wine extremely perfumed. It’s full-bodied with a tight, fine-tannined palate that shows linear flow through the centre palate.”
Fair value
The 2018 looks good value versus today’s release. It has a slightly higher score than the 2019 and is almost £100 cheaper per case.
The 2016 at £1,245 per case also looks good value considering it has the same score from the Wine Advocate.
Almaviva shows a strong price correlation with age, however. On that basis the 2014 and 2012 in particular (with WA scores of 94 and 93 respectively) might also be of interest.
