95/100 Wine Spectator 95/100 Parker/Wine Advocate Clos Apalta is the flagship of the Lapostolle winery and the Chilean wine world. This flavorful wine and beautiful winery in the equally beautiful Colchagua Valley demonstrate that Chilean wines can certainly compete with top wines from around the world. Recognition The 2017 vintage was once again a great success for Clos Apalta, receiving an impressive 100 points from James Suckling. Lapostolle is naturally very proud of this fantastic result. The 2017 vintage is certainly no fluke; Clos Apalta 2005 was chosen as Best Wine of the Year 2008 by Wine Spectator magazine, and other vintages also scored among the highest, with 94 to 98 points. The 2014 and 2015 vintages also received perfect 100 points from James Suckling. James Suckling on Clos Apalta 2017: 100 points "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. A blend of 48% Carménère, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot. Try after 2025." Only 150 cases of 6 available, plus a few large sizes. Clos Apalta 2017 There's only one Clos Apalta like it; made from the typical Chilean Carménère grape in a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Through careful selection of the grapes and attention to the smallest details during production, this results in a wine with an intensely rich flavor. From the first sip, you taste pure fruit, and the aroma is characterized by spices including vanilla, cloves, and white pepper. It is such an interesting wine, with so many nuances, that you will never tire of tasting it. 20th Anniversary Special Edition In 1997, the Marnier-Lapostolle family launched the Clos Apalta project. Their goal: to produce the finest Chilean wine, rivaling the world's best. And they succeeded! To celebrate their 20th anniversary, a special '20th Anniversary' edition was created for the 2017 vintage. The gold label is printed on the bottle and looks truly stunning, not to mention highly collectible. When to drink: 2022-2030