Clos Apalta 2020 Red Blend, Apalta
Item Number: 28 22 346 20
Clos Apalta 2020 Red Blend, Apalta
99 Point Iconic Clos Apalta!
Quick Taste
- 99 Points!
- Organic, biodynamic
- Michel Rolland Wine!
- 'A really refined, expressive and layered Clos Apalta'
- Super Limited!
About Clos Apalta 2020 Red Blend, Apalta
The Apalta Vineyard is the gem of the Lapostolle estate in Chile's Colchagua Valley. Surrounded on three sides by hills and a river on the fourth side it has its own unique micro-climate. Planted back in 1920 it also has deeply rooted grapevines averaging 60 years old that provide low yields of less than 2 tons per acre and grapes with deep complex flavors. It's also certified organic and biodynamic. This flagship wine is designed to reflect the terroir of Apalta. The fruit is hand harvested in small cases and the grapes are hand de-stemmed. The French oak vats are filled by gravity and the wine is bottled by gravity without any treatment or filtration. Aged in 100% new French oak.
99 Points James Suckling
"A really refined, expressive and layered Clos Apalta with fine olives, incense, cigar box, cocoa powder, Spanish chocolate, pencil shavings, graphite and fine spices. Juicy, bright and full-bodied palate with a fine saline, savory twist. Very long and juicy. 64% carmenere, 19% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot and 2% petit verdot. Real finesse from 2020. Drink from 2024."
97 Points Decanter
"A great effort in the hot and dry 2020, COVID-19 vintage with the earliest harvest ever. The grand vin shows power, richness and tons of fruit but retains a sense of charisma and direction that is so compelling. Bright, forward, sleek and silky, tannins enrobe the palate creating a cushion for the ripe blackcurrants and blueberries, bright acidity and underlying spice to meld together. A large percentage of Carmenere at 64% gives the fragrance and backbone while 19% Cabernet Sauvignon adds texture and depth, 13% Merlot bringing freshness and acidity and 2% Petit Verdot adding spice, colour and richness. Only just beginning to really express itself with liquorice, eucalyptus, figs, plums and a salty-wet stone minerality that comes in on the finish. Despite the intensity, this is layered and well sculpted with tons of pleasure to be had with a few more years ageing. Ageing 27 months in 225L French oak barrels, 85% new, 15% two years old. 3.7pH. Winemaker and viticulturist Andrea Leon kept more leaf coverage, a thicker and higher trellis and natural cover crops during the vintage to moderate the high temperatures. Bottles for this, and the second wine, are now made in Chile as of this vintage and have reduced in weight by 10% in a bid to increase sustainability. Clos Apalta now also featuring its name embossed in the glass at the bottom of the bottle."
96 Points Vinous
"The 2020 Blend Clos Apalta is 64% Carménère, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot from Apalta, Colchagua. It was aged for 27 months in 85% new barrels. Rich purple in hue. The clearly defined, ripe, complex nose has a leafy character underlined by fruit such as prune and blueberry jam along with hints of pepper, tobacco and rosemary, all packaged in a cedar cigar box. Creamy and broad in the mouth with good volume. The firm flow is channeled by appreciable structure in which polished tannins set the tone for an expansive, indulgent profile. A genuine Michel Rolland interpretation of a year with a rapid ripening season."
Wine Details
- Alcohol % 14.0%
- Bottle Size 750 ml
- Wine Type Red
- Country Chile
- Region Abruzzo
- Appellation Apalta
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