Clos Apalta 2019

The Apalta DO lies within a projection of the Coastal Cordillera, a small mountain range of decomposed granite between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean within the Colchagua Valley.

The family’s estate – the ‘Clos’ – is protected by a horseshoe-shaped mountain that shelters vines from the extreme influences of the Andes and Pacific. The hills provide relief from the afternoon sun in summer, creating slightly cooler conditions than the rest of the valley. Below, the Tinguiririca River cuts along the valley, providing natural drainage for winter rains. Here, conditions are perfect for elegant, complex wines with great structure, depth, color, and aging potential.

The health of soil, native vegetation, and local animal life is paramount. The estate vineyards are tended according to Organic and Biodynamic practices, the old vines are dry farmed, and the fruit is harvested by hand.

The revolutionary six-story Clos Apalta winery is built into the granite hillside of ‘The Clos’ in the proportions of the Golden Ratio, representing perfect natural equilibrium. In this way, the winery itself is an element of their minimal-intervention winemaking philosophy: hand harvesting, gentle extraction, wild yeast fermentation, no fining, and no filtration.

"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. Drink or hold." - 99 Points, James Suckling (#11 in James Suckling Top 100 Wines of 2022)

"A dark, brooding nose with hints of smoked meat and figs. Juicy and intense, you get power and acidity and poise. There is lots of finesse in this wine, you feel the step up from the second wine in the detail of the slightly grainy but very present tannins and the sculpting of the fruit - blackcurrants, red cherries, plums and balsamic touches. A real stylish element to this, it's generous and giving but not too overtly. It's still rich and concentrated and you do get the 15% alcohol - but feels like they've taken the foot off the pedal slightly allowing the different elements to shine in their own right. Smooth and totally seductive, the texture and the lingering slightly chalky element stays on the tongue while the fruit lasts and lasts. A lovely wine. This has one of the highest percentages of Carménère ever at 70% with 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Aged 24 months in French oak barrels (90% new) followed by one year in bottle. Biodynamic." - 97 Points, Decanter

"The 2019 Clos Apalta from Apalta, Colchagua was aged for 24 months in 90% new French barrels. Dark purple in the glass. The complex, nuanced nose offers mild notes of mint, pyrazines, ash and ripe dark fruit such as blackberry with hints of undergrowth and tobacco, cedar and other aromas from the aging process. In the mouth, it’s indulgent and compact initially with refined, slightly reactive, young tannins, an expansive flow and a rich palate that delivers herbal flavors before the sustained, fruity finish. The good year has helped to enhance the depth of an already accomplished red with a well-proven style." - 96 Points, Vinous

Producer: Clos Apalta

Country: Chile

Region: Rapel Valley

Varietal: Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Appellation: Apalta

Vintage: 2019

Size: 750ml