« APRIL 2010 – PRESS TRIP TO CHILE – MONTES | Home | 2010 PRESS TRIP TO CHILE: MONTGRAS PROPERTIES »
APRIL 2010 – PRESS TRIP CHILE – LAPOSTOLLE
For the second time I had the honour and pleasure to bring a visit to one of the most beautiful wineries of Chile: LAPOSTOLLE at Clos Apalta. In September/October 2009, I even slept one night in the wonderful residence behind the winery. A great experience that I will not forget so soon. Up the hill, with a fantastic view over the Lapostolle / Clos Apalta vineyards, sharing my breakfast with some birds singing a serenade for the brand new day. The winery is a piece of art, not only from an architectural point of view, but also concerning functionality and environmental care. Lapostolle, founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle (indeed, the family behind the worldwide success story of Grand Marnier liqueur) and her husband Cyril de Bournet, is not just a trendy story. People really mean it when talking about ecological and environmental conservation, reducing of CO2 emissions, recycling, saving and reusing water, energy conservation (the whole winery is perfectly naturally cooled and insulated, saving more than 75% in cooling requirements, everything works by gravity, softer for grapes and wines but also saving energy). The vineyards are 100% organic and will be certified in 2011. Better for the environment, but also better for all the people working in the vineyards. The winery has undertaken a further step, going to 100% biodynamic vineyard management. The whole farm will be self sufficient, with a natural interaction between soil, plants, animals and humans. This step has been taken for environmental goals, but also especially for increasing the expression of terroir and the balance in the wines.
3 TERROIRS
Lapostolle owns 3 different vineyards with totally different terroir. Atlayas in Casablanca valley has steep terraced hillsides and a long and cool growing season. The poor soil is composed of weathered granite. Las Kuras in Requinoa (Cachapoal) enjoys a great micro-climate with a big difference of temperature between the warm and dry days and the long and cool nights. The soil is stony and morainic. Apalta in Colchagua is a top location for wine growing: a large amphitheater of non-irrigated foothills with more than 75% of vines from 50 to 80 years old!
The tasting in April 2010:
Casa Sauvignon blanc 2009 (Rapel): 92% sauvignon, 8% sémillon. Fresh, intense fruity, citrus, pears, nectarine, floral, light, slightly mineral at the end.
Casa Chardonnay 2009 (Casablanca): classical nose, creamy, tropical fruit, citrus, floral, mineral, round, mild, ripe.
Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay 2008 (Casablanca): much better than the Casa chardonnay, fuller, more complex, with hints of flowers, honey, citrus and spices, juicy, very lovely and elegant wine.
Casa Merlot 2008 (Rapel): 85% merlot, 7% syrah, 4% petit verdot and 4% malbec. Friendly and generous nose, juicy structure, hints of pepper and aromatic herbs, good fruit, but for my taste a little bit too much oak.
Casa Cabernet sauvignon 2008 (Rapel): 85% cabernet sauvignon, 9% merlot, 4% syrah, 2% petit verdot. Same comment as above: lovely fruit but dominated by too much smoky oak.
Cuvée Alexandre Merlot 2007 (Colchagua): 85% merlot, 15% carmenère. Fantastic nose, very aromatic, very classical merlot with a spicy undertone and loads of plums, cherries and blackberries. Ripe, generous, mouth filling, perfect in balance. Great wine.
Cuvée Alexandre Cabernet sauvignon 2008 (Colchagua): 85% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot. Very classical blend, elegant nose, smoky cedar wood, fruity en generous, with a chewy tannic finale. Good balance. Great wine.
Cuvée Alexandre Carmenère 2008 (Cachapoal): 85% carmenère, 15% merlot. Wow, ripe, fruity, elegant, juicy, mineral, well balanced, with a long and generous smoky finale. Great wine.
Cuvée Alexandre Syrah 2007 (Cachapoal): 100% syrah. Powerful, straight, juicy, elegant, floral, mineral, spicy, meaty… very well balanced. Great wine.
Clos Apalta 2007 (Colchagua): 61% carmenère, 24% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 3% petit verdot. Fantastic nose, very complex, with among others cedar oak and spices; elegant structure, well balanced, with very well integrated fine oak and velvety tannins. A great icon wine.
¡Comprar vinos chilenos ayuda a las víctimas del terremoto!
Buy Chilean wines to help the victims of the earthquake!
Achetez du vin chilien pour aider les victimes du tremblement de terre !
Koop Chileense wijnen om de slachtoffers van de aardbeving te helpen!
Comments
Trackbacks