Clos Apalta

Clos Apalta

Other Red Grape or Blend
Clos Apalta bottle image
Clos Apalta bottle image

POS Materials

Tech Sheet Download Bottle Shot Download Acclaim Linkout

Clos Apalta

Clos Apalta

Other Red Grape or Blend

A world class Blend in the Bordeaux tradition.  The Earth offers is up and we respect the gift.  Winter 2014 was considered as rainy in Apalta, with higher temperatures compared to the previous season, moving from a minimum of 4,5°C to 14,7°C maximum. This translate into 0.5°C more than the 2014 period. Spring 2014 had moderate temperatures allowing good bud break and blooming, been both very homogeneous. Summer was more temperate than usual, with some heat waves that lasted for 5 consecutive days in January. This season Colchagua registered the higher growing degree days’ sum of the last three periods, due mainly to the high temperatures registered towards the end of summer, made of March the warmest of the last decades. However, grapes showed excellent quality when picked with a good aromatic expression and good tannic structure.

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Wine Production

Our winemaking philosophy is to reflect the terroir from Apalta by crafting a wine based in Carmenère. We hand harvest the fruit in small cases of 14 kilos. The grapes are 100% hand de-stemmed in our Clos Apalta Winery so we maintain complete control of the quality. 95% of grapes were fermented in our French oak vats while 5% was fermented In new French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Intense creamy attack with black fruit flavors, long lasting velvety tannins and an intense/elegant finish.

Food Pairing

Ideal companion for a canard à l’orange, rack of lamb with rustic mashed potatoes or to finish a meal with a selection of a high percentage cacao chocolate.

A world class Blend in the Bordeaux tradition.  The Earth offers is up and we respect the gift.  Winter 2014 was considered as rainy in Apalta, with higher temperatures compared to the previous season, moving from a minimum of 4,5°C to 14,7°C maximum. This translate into 0.5°C more than the 2014 period. Spring 2014 had moderate temperatures allowing good bud break and blooming, been both very homogeneous. Summer was more temperate than usual, with some heat waves that lasted for 5 consecutive days in January. This season Colchagua registered the higher growing degree days’ sum of the last three periods, due mainly to the high temperatures registered towards the end of summer, made of March the warmest of the last decades. However, grapes showed excellent quality when picked with a good aromatic expression and good tannic structure.

All Products →

Wine Production

Our winemaking philosophy is to reflect the terroir from Apalta by crafting a wine based in Carmenère. We hand harvest the fruit in small cases of 14 kilos. The grapes are 100% hand de-stemmed in our Clos Apalta Winery so we maintain complete control of the quality. 95% of grapes were fermented in our French oak vats while 5% was fermented In new French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Intense creamy attack with black fruit flavors, long lasting velvety tannins and an intense/elegant finish.

Food Pairing

Ideal companion for a canard à l’orange, rack of lamb with rustic mashed potatoes or to finish a meal with a selection of a high percentage cacao chocolate.

Brand Materials

Tech Sheet Download Bottle Shot Download Acclaim Linkout
Biodynamic Practices
Sustainable Practices
Native Yeasts
Organic Practices
Old Vines
Woman-Led
95
POINTS
“Despite the warm and dry character of the year, I find the 2015 Clos Apalta, a blend of 57% Carménère, 26% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, to be less marked by the Carménère and with more integrated oak and better freshness. There is more Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's spicy and herbal while ripe and powerful, full-bodied and with plenty of dusty tannins. It has a strong personality, and I find more balance here.”
Wine Advocate
95
POINTS
“Intense aromas of baked earth, liquorice, spice, cassis and blueberry. Tightly wound, rich palate which is sleek, polished and shows fine-grained tannins. This opulent and dense wine has polished oaking and a focused finish.”
Decanter
95
POINTS
“Mouthwatering flavors of blackberry, currant and dark plum show lively spice and pepper accents in this refined red. Carmenère blend.”
Wine Spectator
94
POINTS
BEST VALLEY CHOICE/ APALTA: “In addition to being a blend of varieties (46% carménère, 30% cabernet, 19% merlot, and 5% franc), Clos Apalta is also a blend of vineyards, all in Apalta, including some very old vines (especially the carménère and cabernet) dating to 1920 that have been the base of this wine since its debut vintage in 1997. And even though it’s not the monster of ripeness and oak that it was at the beginning, it’s still a voluptuous wine with an enveloping, succulent character that fills every corner of the palate with its spice tones and ripe black fruit.”
Descorchados
93
POINTS
“Already given 100 points by one critic, so what do I know? If you like the ripe, late-picked style favoured by Michel Rolland (and enhanced by the heat of Apalta), then this will do it for you. It's smooth, sweet and plush with lots of oak, dense tannins and a slightly pruney finish. Admirable but not necessarily a pleasure to drink.”
Tim Atkin, MW
100
“There is a subtle complexity on the nose with currant, berry, fresh herb and wet earth aromas. Cut fresh flowers, too. Full body, dense and powerful. Incredible character here with such purity and polish. It goes on for minutes. Formed, sculptured yet soulful. A monumental wine for Chile. Unbelievable. More powerful than the 2014 which was 100 points. A blend of 46% carmenere, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Made from biodynamically grown grapes.” (#1 of Top 100 Andean Wines of 2018)
James Suckling
100
“There is a subtle complexity on the nose with currant, berry, fresh herb and wet earth aromas. Cut fresh flowers, too. Full body, dense and powerful. Incredible character here with such purity and polish. It goes on for minutes. Formed, sculptured yet soulful. A monumental wine for Chile. Unbelievable. More powerful than the 2014 which was 100 points. A blend of 46% carmenere, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Made from biodynamically grown grapes.” (#5 on Top 100 Wines of 2018)
James Suckling
100
“There is a subtle complexity on the nose with currant, berry, fresh herb and wet earth aromas. Cut fresh flowers, too. Full body, dense and powerful. Incredible character here with such purity and polish. It goes on for minutes. Formed, sculptured yet soulful. A monumental wine for Chile. Unbelievable. More powerful than the 2014 which was 100 points.”
James Suckling
“Hailing from the relatively warmer Colchagua Valley, this includes a bit of Carmenere. Full-bodied with ripe black fruit, it showed ‘velvety chocolate flavors punctuated by savory notes of herbal tea, soy and umami,’ observed Schatz. It’s still somewhat youthful; and chewy tannins and flavors of, ‘black cherry, vanilla, spice and tobacco’ will evolve and integrate with time, Landa predicted.”
Beverage Media
“Particularly deep crimson. Very heady and ripe on the nose but not aggressively sweet or alcoholic.” (16.5 out of 20 points)
Jancis Robinson

Vineyard & Production Info

Vineyard name:
Condor de Apalta
Soil composition:
Colluvial granitic soils, lightly textured with layers of clay.
Training method:
Espalier
Exposure:
Northern
Year vineyard planted:
1920
First vintage of this wine:
1997
Bottles produced of this wine:
62,388
Average Vine Age:
90
Certified Eco-Friendly Practices:
Biodynamic-Demeter
Certified Vineyards:
Ceres
Certifying Organizations:
Demeter

Winemaking & Aging

Prefermentation Technique:
100% native yeast
Varietal composition:
46% Carménère, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Fermentation container:
French oak vats
Fermentation temperature:
Lower than 28ºC °F
Maceration technique:
Manual punch downs to extract compounds
Fining agent:
Not fined, cold stabilized or filtered.
Type of aging container:
Barrels
Size of aging container:
225 L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
26 months
Age of Aging Container:
New

About the Vineyard

Apalta is located at 170 Kilometers South West from Santiago in the Colchagua Valley. The Vineyard is situated on a North to South exposure, which is quite rare in Chile. The Tinguiririca river rests on one side and the hills from the Coastal Cordillera surround the vineyard like a horseshoe.

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