Lapostolle Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon Apalta 2021

The Apalta Vineyard is the gem of the Lapostolle estate in Chile's Colchagua Valley. It's where they source the fruit for one of Chile's greatest wines, Clos Apalta. The Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet is also sourced from this extraordinary vineyard.

Surrounded on three sides by hills and a river on the fourth side it has its own unique micro-climate.

Planted back in 1920 it also has deeply rooted grapevines averaging 60 years old. The Cabernet grapes for this wine comes from an old block of Cabernet planted in 1920 with high density that provides low yields of less than 2 tons per acre and grapes with deep complex flavors. It's also certified organic and biodynamic. The grapes are 100% hand harvested with strict fruit selection. All fermentation is done with wild yeast.

Intense, deep red color with purple edges. Expressive and intense nose with cassis and black currant aromas. Elegant palate with round and persistent tannins, with fresh cherry along with a light toast flavor.

This 2021 is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdo and pairs nicely with high flavoring dishes as lamb shank with herbs or pork fillet with mustard and honey.

James Suckling scored this 94 Points saying, "An elegant and pretty complex expression with an array of red and black cherries, grilled spices, tapenade and roasted red pepper. Some firm, nicely chewy tannins on the medium- to full-bodied palate gives a tight structure to the juicy fruit. Dialled back and fresh. Shows the angular tannins from the granitic soils. Drinkable now, but better after 2024."

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate scored this 90 Points saying, "The creamy and sleek 2021 Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon reveals abundant notes of herbs and spices, a ripe profile and abundant, slightly grainy tannins. This is not 100% Cabernet; it has 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot and matured in French oak barrels, 30% of them new, for 13 months."