Odfjell Aliara 2018

This is Odfjell’s top blend and is only produced in years with very high quality that meets the winery’s standards. It wasn’t made in 2016 or 2017, for example. This 2018, a vintage considered the best of that decade, finds the Odfjell team trying to give their wines more elegance, especially at the level of tannin texture, and that’s clearly evident here in the creamy sensation that spreads across the palate, giving very gentle support to the red fruit flavors and herbal notes. The flavors are deep and already have a certain complexity, and the acidity seems to not only lend them freshness but to also transport them to the finish, leaving a fruity, fresh, and juicy sensation. This blend comes from vineyards in three different zones and consists of syrah and carignan, which make up half of the blend, plus malbec, carmenere, cabernet, and tempranillo. Score – 95. (Patricio Tapia, guiadescorchados.cl, 2022)