CLOS APALTA – LE PETIT CLOS 2016

Founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, the French family known for producing Grand Marnier, Lapostolle aim is to “create world-class wines using French expertise and the superb terroir of Chile”.
The vineyard is located at the entrance of the Apalta Valley, with its 60 hectares laid amphitheatrically. It enjoys a mostly southeast exposure, quite rare in Colchagua, which limits the sunshine and protects the old vines planted in poor granite soils from extreme heat. The oldest plots were planted between 1915 and 1920; the stocks were imported from France at the end of the 19th century. A unique, century-old vineyard with 40 hectares of pied franc, with vines averaging 80-years-old. The carménère and cabernet, with their high-quality phenols, give superb and succulent grapes.
Bordeaux’s famed oenologist Michel Rolland consults at the estate.

Clos Apalta – Valle De Apalta – Le Petit Clos 2016. $79.95
96 Points Suckling.
A juicy and delicious second wine from Clos Apalta. Beautiful, ripe and delicious with dark berries and mushrooms. Full-bodied and very balanced with complex walnut, spice and berry character. Dark chocolate and hazelnuts at the finish. Drinkable now, but better in 2022.

93+ Points Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The ‘second wine’, here, the 2016 Le Petit Clos is a very different blend from the 2015; it is now mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with just 4% Merlot and 1% Carménère, while last year it was almost half Carménère. The vineyards are now certified in organic and biodynamic agriculture. The bunches were hand-destemmed, and the grapes fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a six-week maceration. Malolactic was in barrique, and the élevage happened as follows: the wine spent seven months in new French barriques, and then 71% of the volume was transferred to French oak barriques (22% new and 49% second year,) while the rest of the wine was put in oak vats. The élevage was 23 months in total. With the change in varieties, this feels very different from the Clos Apalta – more Cabernet here and more Carménère there. The nose is elegant and nuanced, with herbs, spices and a core of ripe red and black fruit, quite varietal and with integrated oak. The palate is medium to full-bodied, with round tannins and vibrant acidity, making it long and supple. I think it’s a step up over the 2015.”

93 Points Wine Spectator
“Minerally and well-structured, with bright acidity backing the concentrated cherry and raspberry flavors. Dried green herbal notes and peppery hints show on the fresh finish.”