2018 Clos Apalta (375ml)

Carmenere from Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Powerful, intense, concentrated and breathtaking – these are the words critics use again and again to describe the mighty Clos Apalta, a singular wine from over 100-year-old vines from world-class producer Casa Lapostolle. The legendary Carmenere-based Bordeaux style blend, first released in 1997, has gone on to garner the top praise of critics across the board, including three 100pt ratings in the last five vintages. Wine critic James Suckling summarizes it best, "There’s no doubt that Clos Apalta is one of the world’s greatest red wines." This release of the exceptional 2018 Clos Apalta is the opportunity to secure your allocation of this iconic wine, at the best price available anywhere for a limited time.

With a vision of producing a premium quality wine using a blend of French expertise and Chilean terroir, French Grand Marnier heiress Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet tapped renowned French oenologist Michel Rolland to exclusively lead the winemaking team (Rolland was contractually prevented from working for any other Chilean winery), setting the now eponymous Chilean winery and its signature blend on the fast track to success. Sourced primarily from two blocks of old vine Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon dating to the 1920s planted on granitic soils, the unique microclimate created by the surrounding Cordillera (or Coastal Mountains) creates a shadow yielding less sunshine overall paired with frequent morning mist, optimal conditions for ripening Carmenere yet maintaining its freshness. Now under the direction of their son Charles-Henri de Bournet, the 2018 Clos Apalta exhibits the signature aromatics of spice, chocolate and roasted pepper, with plush dark plum fruit and juicy tannins, and rippling layers of complexity on the lingering finish. With past vintages named five times to the Wine Spectator Top 100 (including being the only South American wine ever to garner the coveted #1), the 2018 Clos Apalta indeed stands shoulder to shoulder with the world's greatest red wines.

98JS

96WA

So aromatic and fresh with dried flowers, sweet tobacco and hints of straw. Red fruit, cloves and green peppercorns. Medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins that are very fresh and refined. Fine, silky and beautiful. Hints of minerals and granite to the dark fruit. Such gorgeous length and beauty. 64% carmenere, 18% merlot. Extremely long and poised. Cooler wine. From biodynamically grown grapes. Delicious to drink already, but another three to four years will make it even better.

98 points, James Suckling (Jun 2021)

There is a lot of Carmenere character on the nose of the 2018 Clos Apalta, which was produced with 64% Carmenere, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot, a blend that is similar to the one used in 2016. The wine is not shy at all and hits the scale at 15% alcohol. It's showy, heady, hedonistic, aromatic, full-bodied and lush with abundant velvety tannins and a long and powerful finish where the notes of black peppercorns and tea and tobacco leaves dominate. This might not be a wine for everybody, but fans of the style will love it. 92,748 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2020.

96 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Issue # 256 - Aug 2021)

Alcohol By Volume: 15.0%

#CLLAMR18AC

$64.98

19 bottles in stock. Ships in 1 to 2 business days.

This item is available in original wood case. Would you like to include the wood case in your order? There is an additional $12.00 shipping fee for wood cases.

This item is a 375ml half bottle. Did you intend to order a half bottle?

Available in Original Wood Case of 12

Add to Wishlist