While Chile's reference-point icon Lapostolle is best known for their singular Clos Apalta bottling (more on that later), the estate also produces an utterly sublime Syrah from their incredible Clos du Lican vineyard.
"It's an absolutely stunning, world-class Syrah" - Jeb Dunnuck
When Alexandra Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet were seeking a site to plant to Syrah in the early 2000s, they couldn't have wished for a more ideal yet challenging place than this stunning hillside in the Apalta Valley composed of ancient granitic soils. After all, this is the same foundation on which the world's greatest Syrahs are built, and with the inaugural 2019 vintage, Clos du Lican proclaimed itself as a contender to them all. The newly released 2023 carries forward a sterling track record in the making, with 98 points from James Suckling and 97 points from Jeb Dunnuck, who declares, "Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has terrific purity, a layered, elegant texture, and a gorgeous finish."
Another fascinating feature of this iconic estate is their practice of releasing perfect-provenance, library vintages of their flagship wine Clos Apalta in small tranches, directly from their own cellars. This year's remarkable offering is the 99-point 2016 vintage.
"This has to be one of the finest Clos Apaltas of all time." - Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Following its 100-point predecessor was always going to be a tall task, but the 2016 is showing all the incredible substance that makes this wine a perennial collectible superstar. Whether your cellar is full of South America's finest or you want to step outside the box and add some variety to your collection, these truly stunning expressions are not to be missed.
This is really focused and refined with fantastic dried flowers and dark berries. Dried-lavender and mint undertones. Medium-to full-bodied with refined and polished tannins that are all together and so focused. Really integrated and melted together on the palate. Compact and very linear. Please give this two or three years to come completely together, but it’s already breathtaking. Better to drink after 2022.
99 points, James Suckling (Apr 2019)
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