The 2019 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta is a proprietary blend from the Colchagua Valley in Chile, known for its vibrant and complex red wines. This particular vintage is composed of 70% Carménère, 18% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot, making it one of the highest percentages of Carménère ever used in this blend. The wine underwent manual punch-down fermentation with indigenous yeasts, aged for 24 months in French oak barrels (90% new), and was bottled in June 2021. It boasts an alcohol content of 15%.
James Suckling gave this wine an outstanding score of 99, describing it as having "a generous array of ripe black and blue fruit with pink peppercorns, green olives, dried flowers, toffee and chocolate orange." He praised its "firm, creamy and velvety tannins" and noted that it "keeps going" with "salted caramel and olives at the end." Suckling concluded by saying, "Drink or hold."
Decanter awarded the wine a 97, highlighting its "dark, brooding nose with hints of smoked meat and figs" and calling it "juicy and intense" with "power and acidity and poise." They emphasized the wine's "finesse" and "slightly grainy but very present tannins," describing it as "smooth and totally seductive."
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated it 95, characterizing the wine as "powerful, big and ripe, with 15% alcohol and a pH of 3.57." The review noted its "creamy and juicy" profile and described it as "luxurious, round, lush and velvety."
Jeb Dunnuck gave the wine a 96, calling it "a legit brilliant wine" with "complex notes of ripe black fruits, ripe herbs, graphite, spice box, and perfectly integrated oak." He praised its "silky tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish."
Wine Spectator also rated it 95, appreciating its ability to "balance muscle and grace in a complex package." They noted "geranium and floral peppercorn-accented red currant notes" and "densely packed blackberry and plum flavors."
Vinous gave it a 96, describing it as "dark purple in the glass" with "mild notes of mint, pyrazines, ash and ripe dark fruit." They highlighted its "indulgent and compact" mouthfeel with "refined, slightly reactive, young tannins."
Overall, the 2019 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta is a highly praised wine, characterized by its complexity, depth, and luxurious profile.