Clos Apalta "Le Petit Clos" 2019
(Colchagua Valley, Chile) [WS 94, #40 Top 100 of 2023]

Notes from the Winemaker:
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. This geography is responsible for the conditions that ensure balance for our vines and a slow ripening for the grapes.

D.O.: Apalta 

VARIETIES: 49% Carmenère 30% Merlot 18% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Petit Verdot 

Harvest: March 14 to May 13

MACERATION TIME 4-5 weeks with manual punch down.

FERMENTATION TYPE 100% in 75hL French oak vats. Malolactic in new French oak barrels.

AGEING 8 months in new French oak barrels. Then another 14 months in 50% new French oak barrels, 50% in second use.

BOTTLING DATE March 23rd, 202

14.5% ABV

Tasting Notes:

COLOR Intense dark red garnet with purple violet edges.

NOSE Expressive notes of well ripened fruit open towards well integrated oak.

PALATE The palate opens toward a concentrated structure, with well defined tanins and good density. Long in the finish.

Ratings & Reviews:

94 Points, #40 Top 100 Of 2023 - Wine Spectator

"An elegant, open-textured and well-contoured blend, offering alluring balsam, cassis and dark chocolate notes that fold over onto the rich palate. Picks up crushed red currant and espresso-laced berry flavors, which have great depth and linger effortlessly around suave tannins, echoing back to the core flavors. Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035. 3,499 squares made, 350 squares imported. —AR"

95 pts - James Suckling

93 pts - Robert Parker Wine Advocate