Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos 2021
We have 6 in stock (Inventory is live and accurate)
The Land
The Apalta Valley is a natural amphitheater carved into Chile's Colchagua hills, enclosed on three sides by mountain ridges and open to the north. The topography creates concentrated daytime warmth with rapid nighttime cooling, preserving freshness and aromatic complexity in a region that might otherwise produce heavier, less structured wine. Soils are gravelly clay-loam on the slopes, with deep-rooted old vines of Carménère that found a second home in Chile after phylloxera nearly wiped the variety from Bordeaux in the 19th century. In the Apalta, it reaches a ripeness it rarely achieves anywhere else.
The Wine
Le Petit Clos is the second wine of the Clos Apalta estate, drawing from younger vines and adjacent parcels to the flagship. Carménère-dominant blend, biodynamic fruit, aged in French oak. The 2021 vintage was excellent in Colchagua: a moderate, balanced growing season produced wines with both concentration and freshness. Dark plum, blackcurrant, cedar, dried herbs, and velvet tannins that are the signature of fully ripe Carménère. The second wine from this estate punches well above its classification.
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
Grilled bone-in ribeye with chimichurri, slow-braised lamb shoulder with olives and herbs, mushroom risotto with truffle, or hard aged cheeses. The Carménère's velvety tannins and dark fruit make it one of the most food-flexible reds from South America.
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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.
