4th Saturday Brown Bagger (J&L's): Double blind. Aromas of black currant, tobacco, black cherry and herbs. Full-bodied with medium tannins and abudant red and black fruit. Hints of mocha and sage with spice tones in the finish. Balanced and elegant, with a lush, velvety texture. Excellent. 93+ pts. (R&D)
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We promised ourselves in February 2021 to drink the next one three years later: so we did. Boy, this wine really came out of its shell! Still young, still many years ahead, but it is in a good drinking window now. Dark, sumptuous, medium to full body. No taste stands out in particular: it just is simply a very good wine. Perhaps the best analogy is that the wine is like meeting of excellent education, manners and pedigree: high society at its finest ( and not of the trashy kind ). “Elegant”, “noble” or even “royal” describes it best. 96 points now, and it might deserve even more.
Well Done Bordeaux Blend. Lots of fruit, well balanced. Medium tannin, Medium acidity. Soft mouth feel. Velvety and smooth. Pleasant finish. Still has a few more years for this vintage to peak, but its right in the ideal drinking window.
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It been nearly two years since the previous bottle, and I had to step back and give this some serious thought. James suckling has this as “pure and polished” @ 100 points; Wine Enthusiast said “Rich, hot, and heavy” @ 92 points. This bottle was definitely in the Suckling camp. To me, it was notable for what it wasn’t, instead of what it was. It was tannic for sure, but not overwhelming; it was not overly oaky or cedary; it was not over-ripe or raisiny; it was not green or herbal (as many Chilean bottles can be); it was not noticeably earthy or briary; it was not too sweet or too dry….nothing dominated, but everything I mentioned was in there, and more.Basically, it is a little bit of everything all in balance. In essence, this bottle of wine was flawless. I think maybe that was Sucklings whole point. This is IMO north of 95 points, wife loved it.
Slightly thin on front end, sturdy solid wine develops. Moderate complexity. Medium length. Best day #2. Never really had a "wow" factor. Very nice wine, had higher expectations with James Suckling's 100 point rating.
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In the glass: very dark red, but not quite purple. Very deep in color from the middle to the edge.
On the nose: graphite, floral, black fruit, and leather
On the palate: blackberry and dark plum. Dark chocolate, earthy, spicy, and a touch of mature herbs - oh my! Big time tannins, and acidity. The finish went on for what seemed like forever.
Overall, this wine blew me away. It is my favorite Chilean wine, and possibly my favorite vintage… pending more age on younger vintages in my cellar.
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Not as good as I was hoping. Nice body and concentration, but quite a bit of oak and ripeness, which seemed to mask the distinct Chilean terroir I was hoping for. There is quite a bit of stuffing here however, and I think this has some good upside. Pretty great wine (I'd probably give it 90 points), but fell way short of the hype for me. I can see this improving significantly over time, and hopefully that's the case.
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Decanted 4+ hours. Big and strong can really feel the acidity right at the beginning. Became very drinkable around the two hour mark. Strong chocolate and vanilla scents. Not comparable to Sena which seems more refined
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The score I'm giving is more a reflection of my poor judgement in opening this early - it shows remarkable structure, concentration and complexity, but still rather tight even after a 4 hour decant. Would suggest revisiting in 5 years
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From magnum. 1 hour decant. This is a big wine. Cherries, dark berries, chocolate, vanilla, smooth tannins. Nice acidity, well balance. I like the vanilla notes very much. Very surprising.
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I have enjoyed the Clos Apalta across many vintages and the 2015 is a standout!
Opened and decanted for a little over an hour. Dark purple almost black in color with a nose that is intoxicating. Black fruits, leather, chocolate and spices.
The palate is amazing with a rich profile of blackberry, blueberry and a creamy chocolate on the midpalate. Very well balanced, soft and yet so full of worn leather with a mineral and spice finish. I see why this rated quite well.
Of course JS way over shot but he tends to do that a lot.
For perspective, this is the first of 4 bottles of the 2015 vintage. It is the fifth vintage of Clos Apalta for me, and I have a run of 25 consecutive vintages of Lapostolle's Cuvee Alexandre Merlot's & Cabernets. That said, I've found the Cuvee Alexandre's hit their stride @ 6-7 years. So, at 6 1/2 years for this Clos Apalta, as others have said....too early.
We started on it after 1 hour of decanting. I immediately noticed the persistent fine grained tannins. Yes, it is tight right now. It very slowly unfolded. Again as others have said, silky ( at one point almost an oily texture in the mouth ). The nose evolved into an almost violet fragrance. Fruitbomb? Not for me at this point, but it's definitely in there and was showing at 2 hours. By then, the tannins were even more fine grained, and the aftertaste lingered a long time. Oak? for sure, but applied properly. It was there.
Superbly balanced, my wife loved it. This bottle at this point in time was in fact Bordeaux'ish, that could change by the next bottle.
It's big, balanced, not ready yet, and full of everything it needs to evolve IMO beautifully. 100 points? I cant predict that, but probably not. I've never tasted a 100 point wine. I'll give 94 now, and wait at least 2 years for bottle # 2. After following the Cuvee Alexandre's for so long, I have no doubts bottle # 2 of the 2015 Clos Apalta will improve upon the 94.
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Upgrade - yes, it’s a beast. Yes, it’s unrestrained and, yes, a crowd pleaser. I’m not a huge fan; furthermore, there’s nothing Bordeaux-ish about it. For starters, it’s way too alcoholic and lacking in finesse. And frankly I don’t think aging will change much of that. That said, I love the hint of earth and vibrant red fruit compote on the nose - hence the upgrade. It’s good wine for sure, but it is in the “parker- ish” zone, aptly described by another reviewer. Not now and never will approach perfection. Enjoy!;)
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94+ no formal notes, the slight alcoholic heat has dissipated and integrated well. I'm guessing it needs another 1-2 years to reach the peak, slight oak left that needs to be tamed. Amazing wine, so balanced, so silky. Dark red fruits, tar, pure fruit, cigar box, leather, dried tobacco, humidor, spices, awesome complexity.
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94-95(+? )pts. This wine rightfully deserves the accolades it has received lately. It isn't, however, a 100 point wine, and I suspect it will never be. It falls into the 'parkerized' category - definitely new world, a bit of a fruit bomb, and big. For the fans of the style. Complete notes on IG at brl_winelover.
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This full body Bordeaux blend is in a young stage, still primary, very astringent, dry, a masculine wine, good finish and pairs fantastic with a fatty red meat. The best days are jet to come… 93+
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Decanted for 2.5 hrs, had it with our Thanksgiving dinner ( why, Turkey, stuffing and gravy, of course!). It is a very good wine, but did not knock my socks off, at least not yet. Still young: tannins noticable, though not overbearing. Pepper, fig, a variety of flavors. Some length and I enjoyed it sip by sip. My grade may improve with time. Had a second one in February 2021 and I shouldn’t have: better to wait another three years or so!
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Hits like a thunderclap. Bold black fruits, burnt toast, and cinnamon, but with a lingering flower-petal note to keep you guessing. Concentrated but not a fruit bomb. Would've figured 14.5%, not 15%. Excellent balance. All-around crowd-pleaser. One of the few wines over $120 that I'd call a bargain.
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First things first- DO NOT DRINK FOR 5+ YEARS! Even with plenty of aeration and double-decanting for 2+ hours, it's still too far too closed and young to really appreciate. That said, I've had older Clos Apaltas (Clos Apaltae?) that turned out stunningly, and this certainly has the potential to be the best of the bunch for a certain palate- massive concentration, decadent black fruit, powerful mineral core, omnipresent tannin. That said, I personally prefer a little more lift and elegance, and there's practically no floral/cedar tones in this wine- it's way way more new world than other vintages, which you might place as a St. Julien in a blind tasting, so I'm giving this a lower score- but consider this a 94++, with lots of upside after further aging.
Is it worth the price? You could buy a lot of far worse $200+ Cali cabs, so in that sense, sure it's worth it; but you can also buy the '09 or the '05 of this wine for a lot less, and those are drinking beautifully today, so perhaps try those first and decide if you want to fill your cellar with this. It's not a 100-pointer in my mind, but it's objectively very well made and will bring lots of drinking pleasure to the patient.
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See previous note(s). This is so fricking good, that I not only obsess every sip, but the bottle has disappeared rather quickly. Seriously close to perfect and quixotically layered. A true legend...if I could drink this pillar of worship every day, life would be massively enhanced.
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Tasted this alongside '15 Argenteria, and it was a nice comparison. This is more full-bodied and decadent, still a bit closed at this stage of development but still showing beautifully all the same. Has a smokey backbone, quite concentrated, firm tannins, nice dryness. Such a treat. Will improve even further with age.
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Decanted for an hour. An almost black core, with garnet and a ruby red rim. Your senses are instantly charmed and mesmerized with the sublimeness of this goddess. The nose is utter perfection with red fruit jubilee, fresh blackberries, vanilla bean, braised shiitake mushroom, roasted garlic, beef jerky, lilies and ground salty rock. The seemlessness and the androgynous vanguard do not dissolve, just like the elaborate finish, with slightly viscous tannins. So layered and silky, with detailed luxury. This is a game changer and an enchanting expression within any class. Quite individual and remarkable. Drink 2022 - 2037.
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James Suckling - Great Wines of the Andes 2018 (The Presidio, SF): M Rolland. (carmenere, cab, merlot)- blue fruit. Juniper. Menthol. Slight pencil shavings oak (2years in new French) but mostly well contained. Tightly wound black fruit. Elevated acid. High tannins. Less oxidized than the petit clos. Has energy.
3/23/2024 - AllRed wrote: 93 Points
4th Saturday Brown Bagger (J&L's): Double blind. Aromas of black currant, tobacco, black cherry and herbs. Full-bodied with medium tannins and abudant red and black fruit. Hints of mocha and sage with spice tones in the finish. Balanced and elegant, with a lush, velvety texture. Excellent. 93+ pts. (R&D)
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2/2/2024 - HU wrote: 96 Points
We promised ourselves in February 2021 to drink the next one three years later: so we did. Boy, this wine really came out of its shell! Still young, still many years ahead, but it is in a good drinking window now. Dark, sumptuous, medium to full body. No taste stands out in particular: it just is simply a very good wine. Perhaps the best analogy is that the wine is like meeting of excellent education, manners and pedigree: high society at its finest ( and not of the trashy kind ). “Elegant”, “noble” or even “royal” describes it best. 96 points now, and it might deserve even more.
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8/3/2023 - Yondan wrote: 94 Points
Well Done Bordeaux Blend. Lots of fruit, well balanced. Medium tannin, Medium acidity. Soft mouth feel. Velvety and smooth. Pleasant finish. Still has a few more years for this vintage to peak, but its right in the ideal drinking window.
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8/1/2023 - guydavidnewhouse Likes this wine: 95 Points
It been nearly two years since the previous bottle, and I had to step back and give this some serious thought. James suckling has this as “pure and polished” @ 100 points; Wine Enthusiast said “Rich, hot, and heavy” @ 92 points. This bottle was definitely in the Suckling camp. To me, it was notable for what it wasn’t, instead of what it was. It was tannic for sure, but not overwhelming; it was not overly oaky or cedary; it was not over-ripe or raisiny; it was not green or herbal (as many Chilean bottles can be); it was not noticeably earthy or briary; it was not too sweet or too dry….nothing dominated, but everything I mentioned was in there, and more.Basically, it is a little bit of everything all in balance. In essence, this bottle of wine was flawless. I think maybe that was Sucklings whole point. This is IMO north of 95 points, wife loved it.
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6/25/2023 - slabslovin wrote: 93 Points
Slightly thin on front end, sturdy solid wine develops. Moderate complexity. Medium length. Best day #2. Never really had a "wow" factor. Very nice wine, had higher expectations with James Suckling's 100 point rating.
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3/12/2023 - AboveAvgBro wrote: 96 Points
Unreal wine, and it’s still arguably too young to open.
Has the power of a Napa Cabernet with the structure of a Bordeaux. All from world class terroir of Apalta
46% Carmenere, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc.
In the glass: very dark red, but not quite purple. Very deep in color from the middle to the edge.
On the nose: graphite, floral, black fruit, and leather
On the palate: blackberry and dark plum. Dark chocolate, earthy, spicy, and a touch of mature herbs - oh my! Big time tannins, and acidity. The finish went on for what seemed like forever.
Overall, this wine blew me away. It is my favorite Chilean wine, and possibly my favorite vintage… pending more age on younger vintages in my cellar.
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12/30/2022 - Andybe Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still climbing the hill. Nice fruit and chocolat is covered bij some lazy tannins and acidity. Patience will be rewarded. 94-97
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8/20/2022 - Nbkat8 wrote: 91 Points
This wine is a brick, heavy and dark. Dark berries, Spice and Clove dominate the flavors.
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5/22/2022 - JRockEsq Likes this wine:
Not as good as I was hoping. Nice body and concentration, but quite a bit of oak and ripeness, which seemed to mask the distinct Chilean terroir I was hoping for. There is quite a bit of stuffing here however, and I think this has some good upside. Pretty great wine (I'd probably give it 90 points), but fell way short of the hype for me. I can see this improving significantly over time, and hopefully that's the case.
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3/21/2022 - Tekbassist Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted 4+ hours. Big and strong can really feel the acidity right at the beginning. Became very drinkable around the two hour mark. Strong chocolate and vanilla scents. Not comparable to Sena which seems more refined
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3/18/2022 - vincentnip Likes this wine: 95 Points
深紅，木味，4hrs甜香
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1/1/2022 - glassofhans Likes this wine: 92 Points
The score I'm giving is more a reflection of my poor judgement in opening this early - it shows remarkable structure, concentration and complexity, but still rather tight even after a 4 hour decant. Would suggest revisiting in 5 years
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12/13/2021 - Khon Kaen Likes this wine: 91 Points
From magnum. 1 hour decant. This is a big wine. Cherries, dark berries, chocolate, vanilla, smooth tannins. Nice acidity, well balance. I like the vanilla notes very much. Very surprising.
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11/19/2021 - ta75 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Solid as always, if you have some, leave it alone for 5 years. Having said that, I have opened 4/6 in the last 18 months..! Decant 1.5-2 hours today
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11/1/2021 - brouigu1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
I have enjoyed the Clos Apalta across many vintages and the 2015 is a standout!
Opened and decanted for a little over an hour. Dark purple almost black in color with a nose that is intoxicating. Black fruits, leather, chocolate and spices.
The palate is amazing with a rich profile of blackberry, blueberry and a creamy chocolate on the midpalate. Very well balanced, soft and yet so full of worn leather with a mineral and spice finish. I see why this rated quite well.
Of course JS way over shot but he tends to do that a lot.
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9/23/2021 - guydavidnewhouse Likes this wine: 94 Points
For perspective, this is the first of 4 bottles of the 2015 vintage. It is the fifth vintage of Clos Apalta for me, and I have a run of 25 consecutive vintages of Lapostolle's Cuvee Alexandre Merlot's & Cabernets. That said, I've found the Cuvee Alexandre's hit their stride @ 6-7 years. So, at 6 1/2 years for this Clos Apalta, as others have said....too early.
We started on it after 1 hour of decanting. I immediately noticed the persistent fine grained tannins. Yes, it is tight right now. It very slowly unfolded. Again as others have said, silky ( at one point almost an oily texture in the mouth ). The nose evolved into an almost violet fragrance. Fruitbomb? Not for me at this point, but it's definitely in there and was showing at 2 hours. By then, the tannins were even more fine grained, and the aftertaste lingered a long time.
Oak? for sure, but applied properly. It was there.
Superbly balanced, my wife loved it. This bottle at this point in time was in fact Bordeaux'ish, that could change by the next bottle.
It's big, balanced, not ready yet, and full of everything it needs to evolve IMO beautifully. 100 points? I cant predict that, but probably not. I've never tasted a 100 point wine. I'll give 94 now, and wait at least 2 years for bottle # 2. After following the Cuvee Alexandre's for so long, I have no doubts bottle # 2 of the 2015 Clos Apalta will improve upon the 94.
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8/13/2021 - Dough Boy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Upgrade - yes, it’s a beast. Yes, it’s unrestrained and, yes, a crowd pleaser. I’m not a huge fan; furthermore, there’s nothing Bordeaux-ish about it. For starters, it’s way too alcoholic and lacking in finesse. And frankly I don’t think aging will change much of that. That said, I love the hint of earth and vibrant red fruit compote on the nose - hence the upgrade. It’s good wine for sure, but it is in the “parker- ish” zone, aptly described by another reviewer. Not now and never will approach perfection. Enjoy!;)
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7/28/2021 - Dough Boy Likes this wine: 92 Points
Straightforward modern style Bordeaux blend, jammy with hint of spice and cedar but lacking in length for a higher score. Maybe closed.
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6/17/2021 - ta75 wrote: 94 Points
94+ no formal notes, the slight alcoholic heat has dissipated and integrated well. I'm guessing it needs another 1-2 years to reach the peak, slight oak left that needs to be tamed. Amazing wine, so balanced, so silky. Dark red fruits, tar, pure fruit, cigar box, leather, dried tobacco, humidor, spices, awesome complexity.
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3/9/2021 - br_winelover Likes this wine: 95 Points
94-95(+? )pts. This wine rightfully deserves the accolades it has received lately. It isn't, however, a 100 point wine, and I suspect it will never be. It falls into the 'parkerized' category - definitely new world, a bit of a fruit bomb, and big. For the fans of the style. Complete notes on IG at brl_winelover.
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1/10/2021 - gteran76 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This full body Bordeaux blend is in a young stage, still primary, very astringent, dry, a masculine wine, good finish and pairs fantastic with a fatty red meat. The best days are jet to come… 93+
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11/28/2020 - HU Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 2.5 hrs, had it with our Thanksgiving dinner ( why, Turkey, stuffing and gravy, of course!). It is a very good wine, but did not knock my socks off, at least not yet. Still young: tannins noticable, though not overbearing. Pepper, fig, a variety of flavors. Some length and I enjoyed it sip by sip. My grade may improve with time. Had a second one in February 2021 and I shouldn’t have: better to wait another three years or so!
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11/24/2020 - Stephan O Likes this wine: 96 Points
Hits like a thunderclap. Bold black fruits, burnt toast, and cinnamon, but with a lingering flower-petal note to keep you guessing. Concentrated but not a fruit bomb. Would've figured 14.5%, not 15%. Excellent balance. All-around crowd-pleaser. One of the few wines over $120 that I'd call a bargain.
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3/26/2020 - PeterjW Likes this wine: 96 Points
beautifully balanced wine - exceptional complexity fine tannins and length
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3/7/2020 - bablues wrote: 95 Points
Rich, powerful and delicious. Very young and has many great years ahead of it.
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1/5/2020 - bubnos Likes this wine: 94 Points
First things first- DO NOT DRINK FOR 5+ YEARS! Even with plenty of aeration and double-decanting for 2+ hours, it's still too far too closed and young to really appreciate. That said, I've had older Clos Apaltas (Clos Apaltae?) that turned out stunningly, and this certainly has the potential to be the best of the bunch for a certain palate- massive concentration, decadent black fruit, powerful mineral core, omnipresent tannin. That said, I personally prefer a little more lift and elegance, and there's practically no floral/cedar tones in this wine- it's way way more new world than other vintages, which you might place as a St. Julien in a blind tasting, so I'm giving this a lower score- but consider this a 94++, with lots of upside after further aging.
Is it worth the price? You could buy a lot of far worse $200+ Cali cabs, so in that sense, sure it's worth it; but you can also buy the '09 or the '05 of this wine for a lot less, and those are drinking beautifully today, so perhaps try those first and decide if you want to fill your cellar with this. It's not a 100-pointer in my mind, but it's objectively very well made and will bring lots of drinking pleasure to the patient.
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12/21/2019 - Bwallace Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow, just a fantastic wine all the way to the end. Decanted for an hour but got better in the glass after that.
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12/5/2019 - Matt Scott Likes this wine:
See previous note(s). This is so fricking good, that I not only obsess every sip, but the bottle has disappeared rather quickly. Seriously close to perfect and quixotically layered. A true legend...if I could drink this pillar of worship every day, life would be massively enhanced.
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9/15/2019 - John McCabe wrote: 97 Points
Tasted this alongside '15 Argenteria, and it was a nice comparison. This is more full-bodied and decadent, still a bit closed at this stage of development but still showing beautifully all the same. Has a smokey backbone, quite concentrated, firm tannins, nice dryness. Such a treat. Will improve even further with age.
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8/17/2019 - Stefan Lanslots Likes this wine: 95 Points
Gedronken met Enilson en Marie-Alice met uitgebreide kaasplank. Beste wijn tot nu toe. Heerlijke geur, smaak en beleving!
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5/31/2019 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 99 Points
Decanted for an hour. An almost black core, with garnet and a ruby red rim. Your senses are instantly charmed and mesmerized with the sublimeness of this goddess. The nose is utter perfection with red fruit jubilee, fresh blackberries, vanilla bean, braised shiitake mushroom, roasted garlic, beef jerky, lilies and ground salty rock. The seemlessness and the androgynous vanguard do not dissolve, just like the elaborate finish, with slightly viscous tannins. So layered and silky, with detailed luxury. This is a game changer and an enchanting expression within any class. Quite individual and remarkable. Drink 2022 - 2037.
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9/29/2018 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 87 Points
James Suckling - Great Wines of the Andes 2018 (The Presidio, SF): M Rolland. (carmenere, cab, merlot)- blue fruit. Juniper. Menthol. Slight pencil shavings oak (2years in new French) but mostly well contained. Tightly wound black fruit. Elevated acid. High tannins. Less oxidized than the petit clos. Has energy.
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