Clos Apalta is the flagship wine of Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle and comes from steep terraces in the Apalta Valley in Colchagua. Very old, partly ungrafted vines of carménère, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc are rooted in poor, granitic soils with veins of clay. Hand harvesting, rigorous sorting and a gravity-flow winery ensure gentle handling of the fruit. Slow fermentations and ageing in mostly new French oak add depth and polish. The bouquet delivers blackberry, black cherry and cassis alongside graphite, cocoa, espresso and dried herbs. On the palate Clos Apalta is powerful yet silky, with dense, ripe tannins and a vibrant backbone of freshness.
In Chile’s Apalta Valley, where the hills curve like an amphitheatre around the vines, Clos Apalta has carried the Marnier Lapostolle vision since the 1990s into a benchmark estate. Alluvial stones, granite seams and steep exposures create a patchwork of plots, hand‑harvested and rigorously sorted....
The Great Vertical Tasting: A wine through the mirror of time.
Anyone who compares wine across several vintages discovers its development in a particularly impressive way. A vertical tasting reveals how style, maturity, structure and aromas change over time – and helps to find the right vintage for personal taste or a special occasion.
The grape variety: Carménère
Carménère is a historic Bordeaux grape that has become strongly associated with Chile. It shows dark berry fruit, plum, pepper, herbs, soft tannins and often a subtle paprika note.
Its smooth, spicy style is ideal with grilled meat, barbecue, roast vegetables, burgers and lamb. Carménère is exciting because it offers richness and softness with a distinctive savoury signature.
Carménère →
