Clos Apalta Prelude 2022
We have 12 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
The Apalta Valley is a natural amphitheater in Chile's Colchagua region, enclosed on three sides by mountain ridges with a north-facing opening that concentrates heat through the day and loses it rapidly at night. The diurnal range preserves freshness and aromatic complexity in a region that could otherwise produce jammy, overripe wine. Carménère disappeared from Bordeaux after phylloxera in the late 19th century, but took root in Chile, and in the Apalta's gravelly clay-loam hillsides it reaches a full ripeness it rarely achieves in Europe.
The Wine
53% Carménère, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, from the same certified biodynamic estate as the flagship Clos Apalta. Aged 18 months. Prelude is the entry point to the Clos Apalta range, designed for earlier drinking while carrying the estate's character: dark cherry, blackcurrant, tobacco and dried herb complexity, soft approachable tannins, and enough structure for several more years of development. The 2022 vintage in Colchagua produced balanced, well-structured wines with good natural acidity.
The People
Clos Apalta was created in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, a member of the French Marnier-Lapostolle family, producers of Grand Marnier liqueur. When Alexandra visited the Apalta Valley she recognized the potential of the site: a natural hillside amphitheater of old-vine Carménère surrounded by mountains, with gravelly soils and a microclimate shaped by the Andes. She purchased the property and built one of South America's most admired estates from it. The farming is certified biodynamic and organic. All three wines in the Clos Apalta range draw from the same estate, selected according to vineyard age and parcel character.
Food Pairing
Grass-fed burgers with aged cheddar, grilled lamb merguez, a hearty pasta with slow-cooked beef ragù, or roasted vegetables with feta. Prelude's dark fruit and approachable tannins make it an everyday bottle that still carries the full address of the estate it comes from.
We ship wine to most states with a $100 minimum order for shipping. We don't ship spirits nor beer.
Weather shipping advisory: Orders placed during times of extreme heat or extreme cold will be held for no charge until more favorable weather returns.
The Colchagua Valley, nestled in central Chile three hours south of Santiago, is renowned for its prowess in producing premium red wines, particularly from the Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah varieties. This wine region benefits from a warm climate moderated by cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean, creating ideal conditions for ripening grapes to perfection. The valley's fertile soils, ranging from loamy to granitic, contribute to the robust, fruit-forward character of its wines. With its scenic vineyards set against the backdrop of the Andes, Colchagua Valley is celebrated for its full-bodied reds that showcase deep flavors, smooth tannins, and a harmonious balance, earning it acclaim on the global wine stage.
