2017 Clos Apalta Red Blend Colchagua Valley 6-Pack in OWC (Pre-Arrival)
SKU #1496325
100 points
James Suckling
What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so polished.
(4/2020)
95 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Clos Apalta is the 20th vintage of this wine that was produced with a blend of 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot from organic and biodynamic certified vineyards on granite soils. It fermented with indigenous yeasts for four to five weeks, with manual punch-down of the cap, mostly in 7,500-liter French oak vats and 18% in new French barrique. Malolactic was in new French oak barrels, and the élevage lasted for 27 months in 85% new barrels and 15% second use. This is always a powerful, big and ripe wine that is regularly 15% alcohol, reflecting a warm and ripe place. The 2017 is no exception, perhaps a riper and more powerful wine than the 2016. It's still very young and marked by the élevage, with abundant balsamic aromas and notes from the wood—spice and smoke with an ashy touch. It seems quite marked by the character of the Carmenere. The tannins are quite round and polished, and the flavors are pungent and powerful. It's a full-bodied wine to age in in bottle and enjoy in its 10th birthday with powerful food. 90,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2019. (LG)
(8/2020)
Jancis Robinson
Deep ruby. Intense ripe tomato on the nose, layered with sweet black fruit. The palate follows, with a superb texture of plentiful but fine tannins. There is a hint of graphite and vine tomato, but the core of plummy, cherry fruit is more dominant than on the nose. The acidity is brisk, cutting through all else on a long, spicy finish. (TP)
(9/2020)
K&L Notes
PLEASE NOTE: This product is offered as a complete case in original packaging. If the wines are going to be shipped upon arrival, the bottles will be sent in pulp shippers to protect the bottles during shipping, with the empty case itself shipped separately on request. Will Call or Local Delivery orders can be handled as intact cases. Please detail any special handling requests at checkout online, or call us with specific instructions.
Special 20th Anniversary Black and Gold Label Bottling. *biodynamic*