Clos Apalta "Le Petit Clos" 2021
(Colchagua Valley, Chile) - [VM 96] [JS 96] [WA 94] [WS 93]

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: 68% carmenere, 16% cabernet sauvignon,15% merlot and 1% cabernet franc

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.

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:

96 Points - Vinous:
"Embracing a Bordeaux-style approach, Le Petit Clos is the second wine of Clos Apalta. The 2021 Le Petit Clos combines 68% Carménère, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from the Apalta Vineyard in Colchagua. Displaying a purple hue in the glass, it exhibits a ripe character mellowed by the fresh nature of the vintage. It offers plum and blackberry aromas along with bay leaf, boldo and menthol hints over an ashy marmalade core. Indulgent, plush and rich on the palate, the soft and overwhelming mouthfeel lingers long with a precise, juicy and slightly refreshing personality. The 2021 vintage is indeed a standout for Clos Apalta. Drink between 2024-2038" (JH)

96 Points - James Suckling:
"A nice touch of baked cherries and dark chocolate to the deep blackberry fruit. Ink and a touch of graphite and dried herbs. Full-bodied and pretty powerful with fine-grained tannins and a long, extensive finish. 68% carmenere, 16% cabernet sauvignon,15% merlot and 1% cabernet franc. Give it two more years to let the fruit settle more. Drink or hold."

94 Points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate:
"The 2021 Le Petit Clos is composed of 68% Carménère, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak. It features black and red fruit with a distinct floral bouquet, contrasting with the more savory and woody Clos Apalta bottling, and develops additional spice-driven notes after a brief time in the glass. The palate is smooth, creamy and seductive, culminating in a lush and drying finish framed by fine-grained, extracted tannins and a hint of mineral lift. Within the Clos Apalta range, the Le Petit Clos bottling foregrounds its origins and varietal composition a touch more than the more comparatively lavish grand vin, which, to my palate, makes for a close gap between the two. Drink 2024-2033." (ML)

93 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Refined and structured, offering plenty of graphite and herbal notes up front that give way to a dark chocolate–coated blackberry and spiced plum center, with a twinge of cassis underneath. The tannins show some grip, but the finish also gives a sense of freshness as the core flavors linger nicely. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2036. 1,800 cases imported." (AR)