Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and Cyril de Bournet found Apalta in 1994, hundred-year-old vines already standing there, waiting, and this blend still leans on pre-phylloxera Cabernet Sauvignon for its spine. The Merlot brings black cherry and blackberry with a freshness that keeps the mid-palate lively, while the Cabernet adds raspberry and blackcurrant edged with ripe bell pepper and black olive. Colchagua at full stretch, and a century of vine memory in the glass.
Tasting Notes
The Merlot offers up black fruit aromas such as black cherry and blackberry, all with wonderful freshness on the palate. The Cabernet Sauvignon, in particular from old pre-phylloxera vines, offers up aromas of red fruit (raspberry) and black fruit (blackcurrant, blueberry) with some ripe bell pepper and black olive notes. As it matures it develops pepper, crème de cassis, leather and charred notes (smoke, toast and chocolate). The Carmenère, brightly coloured with hints of purple, is rich with rounded tannins. There are delicate cherry aromas on the nose, subtly balanced out by spicy touches of black pepper. Freshness on the palate ensures a beautiful finish of black fruit, smoke, cocoa, leather and tobacco notes.
Professional Ratings
100
James Suckling“What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so
98
VinousThe 2022 Clos Apalta is 68% Carmenere, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot from Apalta. This aged primarily in French oak vats with 10% of the blend in 225-liter Bordeaux barrels. It opens with black fruit, a delicate ash note, underbrush, boldo and gentle spice over subtle oak. Blueberry, blackberry and sour cherry aromas complete the aromatic profile. On the palate, this is dry for the house s
97
Decanter“In 2019 Andrea León achieved superlative results at Clos Apalta with a blend of 64% Carmenere, Cabernet Franc and Merlot aged for 25 months in French barrels. This is a luxurious red with an aromatic profile of liquorice and black and redcurrant over layers of graphite, clove and cinnamon. In the mouth, the breadth and freshness are brought together by the silky texture which flows into an enjoya
96
Wine Advocate“The grand vin 2020 Clos Apalta was produced with a blend of 64% Carmenere, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot from a ripe and warm year. It's ripe, concentrated, dense and powerful, reflecting the house style and the conditions of the year, with more influence from the élevage than in the second wine, Le Petit Clos. It fermented with indigenous yeasts for five to six weeks, wi
