Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta

Producer: Casa Lapostolle
Wine: Clos Apalta
Vintage: 2003
Region: Colchagua Valley, Chile
Rating: 93KB
Coin: 65USD-SRP
Tasted: 1/24/11
Notes: "Region/District:
Premium lots of non-irrigated, 60 year old vines from
our Apalta vineyards.
Colchagua Valley, Rapel, Chile
Grape Variety:
70% Carmenere-Merlot; 30% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Harvest:
Hand-harvested beginning the first week of April,
in small baskets of 13-15 kg.
Vintage:
Winter 2002 was very cold and rainy. Spring brought
cold temperatures, low sunlight and scarce brightness,
which resulted in a rather late budding and shooting.
Summer was dry and very hot, especially in January.
Temperatures decreased notably by the end of February
with cooler nights and a few cloudy days slowing down
the ripening process. Exceptionally warm sunny
weather finally took hold during the later part of March
and first two weeks of April, enabling a complete and
optimal ripening process as the season came to a close.
These optimal, dry climatic conditions, combined with
lower yields, generated an exceptional vintage 2003
with an outstanding level of quality.
www.casalapostolle.com
Vinification:
• Must was fermented in French oak vats for 15 days at
28°C followed by 15 days post-fermentation maceration.
18% of the wine was hand de-stemmed.
• All the wine was aged 20 months in 100% new French
oak barrels.
• Unfined and unfiltered
• Bottled in February 2005
Tasting Notes:
Deep ruby red with purple shadows.
Intense and fine with notes of ripe red and black fruit
(wild raspberries, cranberries, blackcurrant and blackberries).
Notes of cassis and mocha are also present with
some sweet spices and vanilla highlighting a very pretty
and well integrated complexity from the oak aging.
Smooth, round tannins provide an elegant entry. The
mid-palate is rich and silky, leading towards a very long
finish. Balance and elegance are present throughout,
with a full and very pleasant mouth feel."