We hesitate to use the word ‘icon’ in connection with wine ever since Jancis Robinson came up with the question ‘is that one word or two?’, but it is appropriate for some of the wines launched onto the market via the Bordeaux ‘place‘ at this time of year.
Some of these wines are on such tight allocations that it is difficult to offer them outside the group who buy every year, but there is a small opportunity with one of today’s releases, one of the very top Chileans, Casa Lapostolle’s Clos Apalta. This wine, which is based on Carmenère, emphasizes elegance over brute force, and this 2014 is clearly the best vintage yet. We have a very limited quantity available, and with this 100 point rating we do not expect there to be any left after today, so get your orders in now.
Clos Apalta – Casa Lapostolle £395.00 per six bottles in bond
“An extremely aromatic and focused Clos Apalta with blackberry, blueberry, floral and hot stone character. Full body, very linear and ultra-fine tannins. Focused and tight. Precise and long. This is the most polished and beautiful definition of this wine ever. You want to drink it now but better in 2020. A blend of Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.Rating: 100 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2017)”
The Clos Apalta winery is the jewel in the crown of the French Marnier-Lapostolle’s vineyard holdings. It is 170 kilometres south-west of Santiago in the Colchagua Valley. The vineyard is in a horseshoe shape, and high surrounding hills block the sun in both morning and evening, while the river Tinguiririca adds a further cooling effect on the other side, so that the grapes here ripen slowly and evenly. This wine is possibly the absolute pinnacle of Carmenère, on which is is largely based
We can also offer small volumes of sought-after Californian ‘first growth’ Opus One – see the offer for all the Autumn release icon wines, and a blog with upcoming release dates.
