2019 Clos Apalta 'Clos Apalta' Red

“There’s no doubt that Clos Apalta is one of the world’s greatest red wines.” – James Suckling

99 points for just over 99 dollars! Here cometh THE Clos Apalta The one Suckling compares to “Bordeaux’s Château Lafite Rothschild, Tuscany’s Sassicaia or California’s Opus One” The 2019 vintages of those average over $1,100, $300, and $400 respectively.

Oh, Clos Apalta also happens to be a former winner of Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year award emphasizing that “The wine's price has remained relatively modest through the years, considering the investment behind it, particularly so in comparison to prices for benchmark wines from regions such as Bordeaux, Napa and Tuscany.”

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous echoes that “Clos Apalta is the jewel in the crown of the Bournet family, who also own Lapostolle. From a winery hewn into the granite rock of Apalta and with winemaking overseen by the renowned oenologist Michel Rolland, they make only two wines, both in the Bordelais style: Clos Apalta and Le Petit Clos, two Carménère-based blends.”

And what near perfect Bordeaux, or any Michel Rolland red can be had for around $100? Mic drop.

Thanks to the best deal you can get on this extreme collectible anywhere. And what did we think of it? Flabbergasted by its sheer depth, complexity, intensity, beauty, and many other things that rhyme with longevity.

Not much allocated but no sweat if you miss out, we have a couple more wines from them next.

Let the reviews do the talking...

99 Points – James Suckling “A generous array of ripe black and blue fruit with pink peppercorns, green olives, dried flowers, toffee and chocolate orange. It’s full-bodied with firm, creamy and velvety tannins. Long and polished. Lovely salted caramel and olives at the end. Keeps going. Unfolds on the finish.”

98 Points – International Wine Review “The 2019 Clos Apalta is another brilliant release for this iconic wine. It begins with incredibally complex aromatics of ripe dark currants, cassis, sweet exotic spices, roasted coffee grounds, fresh florals, green pepper, graphite and hints of loam which all come together seamlessly in the glass. On the palate this is just as stunning as it continues to thoroughly impress with its full body and beautifully polished, yet supportive tannins along with a deep core of ripe dark/red fruit. It demonstrates remarkable depth and concentration as well as outstanding balance and finesse leading up to the long, voluptuous finish. This wine has it all, and while it is already quite fascinating in its youth it should evolve beautifully over the next decade.”

97 Points – Decanter “A dark, brooding nose with hints of smoked meat and figs. Juicy and intense, you get power and acidity and poise. There is lots of finesse in this wine, you feel the step up from the second wine in the detail of the slightly grainy but very present tannins and the sculpting of the fruit - blackcurrants, red cherries, plums and balsamic touches. A real stylish element to this, it's generous and giving but not too overtly. It's still rich and concentrated and you do get the 15% alcohol - but feels like they've taken the foot off the pedal slightly allowing the different elements to shine in their own right. Smooth and totally seductive, the texture and the lingering slightly chalky element stays on the tongue while the fruit lasts and lasts. A lovely wine. This has one of the highest percentages of Carménère ever at 70% with 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Aged 24 months in French oak barrels (90% new) followed by one year in bottle. Biodynamic.”