2019 Clos Apalta 'Le Petit Clos' Valle de Colchagua

Winemaker Notes:  Intense dark red garnet with purple violet edges. On the nose, expressive notes of well ripe fruit opening towards well integrated oak. The palate opens toward a concentrated structure, with well defined tannins and good density. Long in the finish.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


James Suckling - "Aromatic and herbal nose of thyme, bay leaves, currants, blackberries, licorice and pomelo pith. Medium-bodied with a fleshy, delicious and open palate. Ripe tannins. Plush and caressing finish."


Vinous - "The 2019 Le Petit Clos from Apalta, Colchagua, was aged for eight months in new French oak barrels, and then 14 months half new and half second used ones. Dark purple in the glass. It delivers an intricate nose of gentle pyrazine aromas such as jalapeno as well as blackberry, blueberry and other dark fruit over a mild, well-integrated bed of oak. In the mouth, it’s vigorous with a rich, expansive flow while the woof provides heft and underlines the jammy flavors. An elegant red from an excellent year."


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."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "The second wine from Clos Apalta, the 2019 Le Petit Clos was produced with a blend of 49% Carmenere, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot from granite soils. It fermented with indigenous yeasts with four to five weeks of maceration with manual punchdowns and malolactic in French oak barrels. The élevage was eight months in new barrels and a further 14 months in 50% new oak and 50% second use. It's a ripe and powerful red with 14.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.6. It has a nose of herbs and spices, and it's creamy and lush, with a juicy texture and a full body with an herbal finish. It has mellow acidity and a soft mouthfeel through round and fine tannins."


Jeb Dunnuck - "The second wine from this notable estate is the 2019 Le Petit Clos, a blend of 49% Carménère, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, raised in 50% new French oak. It has a great bouquet of ripe red and black currants, leafy tobacco, and chocolate, and there's a distinct Bordeaux-like lead pencil character that emerges with time in the glass. Possessing full-bodied richness, a lush, supple, forward mouthfeel, good freshness, and outstanding length, it's one heck of a second wine that should evolve gracefully over the coming decade."