2019 Clos Apalta
The Collective Review
We often hear the expression 'Icon wine' thrown around, either in the context of something new and expensive or at the insistence of the winery itself. However, in our view wines cannot just be 'made' as icons, they have to be awarded as such. After all, it takes many years of dedication and experience, supported by consistent high-level recognition, to make a wine into an icon.
With the presentation of multiple near-perfect and perfect scores from James Suckling, the Chilean superstar Clos Apalta has pinned another medal to its chest. In doing som it has brought Apalta ever closer to the true 'icon' spotlight.
Impressive as this accolade is, it is not the only breakthrough moment: Clos Apalta has been one of the most decorated wines from anywhere in the world over the past decade:
Featured seven times in the Wine Spectator's Top 10 list, including the 2005 vintage which was given the #1 spot, and top billing.
It has been in the Top 3 of the Wine Spectator list three times and is the only South American winery to have topped the list.The only other wine from the Southern Hemisphere to have reached the number is Penfolds Grange.
Consistently rated by Decanter Magazine, Wine Enthusiast and James Suckling as one of the great wines of the world. Forbes Magazine declared Clos Apalta to be the 'creme de la creme' of Carmenere found anywhere in the world.
If you've not looked closely at the best wines of Chile before, then now is the time to start. Not only does Clos Apalta represent the best of Chile, but it also shows what a majority Carmenere wine can achieve.
A generous array of ripe black and blue fruit with pink peppercorns, green olives, dried flowers, toffee and chocolate orange. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy and velvety tannins. Long and polished. Lovely salted caramel and olives at the end. Keeps going. Unfolds on the finish. 70% carmenere, 18% merlot, 8% cabernet sauvignon and 4% petit verdot. Read more
Critic Reviews
A generous array of ripe black and blue fruit with pink peppercorns, green olives, dried flowers, toffee and chocolate orange. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy and velvety tannins. Long and polished. Lovely salted caramel and olives at the end. Keeps going. Unfolds on the finish. 70% carmenere, 18% merlot, 8% cabernet sauvignon and 4% petit verdot.
The 2019 Clos Apalta was produced with a blend of 70% Carmenere, 18% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot, extremely high in Carmenere and low in Cabernet Sauvignon in a ripe and warm year. It fermented with indigenous yeasts for four to five weeks, with manual punch-down of the cap, 67% in 7,500-liter French oak vats and 33% in new French oak barrels followed by malolactic in new French oak barrels. The élevage was 24 months in 90% new barrels and 10% second use. It's powerful, big and ripe, with 15% alcohol and a pH of 3.57. It's creamy and juicy, with very high ripeness and a notable absence of herbal notes; it's oaky, smoky and decadent, coming through as luxurious, round, lush and velvety. It's full-bodied and has abundant, small and powdery tannins.
Technical Attributes
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![Producer]()
Producer: Casa Lapostolle
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![Varietal]()
Varietal: Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
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![Region]()
Region: Colchagua Valley
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![Alcohol]()
Alcohol: 15.0%
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![Net volume]()
Net volume: 750ml
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![Vintage]()
Vintage: 2019
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![Cellar to]()
Cellar until 2046
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Style GuideLight Intense
Producer: Casa Lapostolle
Varietal: Carmenere Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Region: Colchagua Valley
Alcohol: 15.0%
Net volume: 750ml
Vintage: 2019
Cellar until 2046
Tasting Notes
Intense dark purple red with violet blue edges. Expressive nose of ripe fruit plums and dry figs, opening towards subtle spices and elegant aromas of clover and sweet spices. Concentrated in the beginning, opening towards a lively mid palate, with a well constructed tannic frame and a very long lasting palate.
Winemakers Note
These days, Clos Apalta is treated not unlike the great estates of Bordeaux. The vineyard itself, accounting for only 2% of the entire Lapostolle production, is a glorious bio-dynamic haven where foxes duck beneath trees, flowers and foliage line the vineyards and the snow-capped Andes tower over the vast estate, cocooning the natural north-south facing amphitheatre, ensuring the grapes ripen both evenly and slowly. The winemaking is ably assisted by flying-vigneron Michel Rolland, and the wine is traditionally sold and marketed in France itself.
Customer Reviews
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