One of South America’s most prestigious estates was in the spotlight at the 2024 Wine Experience, with a tasting of Clos Apalta’s 2003 Limited Release red blend led by seventh-generation vintner Charles de Bournet.
Clos Apalta is part of the Chilean wine empire founded in 1994 by Cyril de Bournet and Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, of the French family that created the Cognac-based Grand Marnier orange liqueur in the 19th century. For more than a decade now, their son Charles de Bournet has overseen Viña Lapostolle operations, including the flagship Clos Apalta estate and its century-old Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère vines.
“2024 marks 30 years of adventure in Chile [for the family]. And in that time, Clos Apalta has achieved great success, including its 2005 being Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year in 2008,” said senior editor Aaron Romano. “Today we're [pouring the] 2003—from double magnum.”
“Carmenère is the base of Clos Apalta, and this is really what makes this wine truly unique,” said de Bournet, explaining that while the French grape has been largely abandoned in its native Bordeaux, it’s well suited to the long growing season in Chile’s Colchagua Valley. “You need to give time to Carmenère. We actually finished harvesting on the 12th of May this year. That would be [like] November in Bordeaux, which is impossible.”
Clos Apalta takes its time in the bottle as well, noted de Bournet as the 2003 Clos Apalta Limited Release Colchagua Valley (94 points, $65 on release) was served. “The 2003 vintage you’re drinking now is 20 years old, so clearly we can age.”
“I really want to invite you to come and visit Clos Apalta,” de Bournet told the audience, as he showed photos of the bird’s nest winery design that earned Clos Apalta a spot in Wine Spectator’s Beautiful Wineries of the World cover story in the Oct. 31, 2023, issue. “It's a stunning place … You will enjoy the beautiful views of the Apalta Valley.”
