Clos Apalta Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos 2021 750ml

Embracing a Bordeaux-style approach, Le Petit Clos is the second wine of Clos Apalta. The 2021 Le Petit Clos combines 68% Carménère, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from the Apalta Vineyard in Colchagua. Displaying a purple hue in the glass, it exhibits a ripe character mellowed by the fresh nature of the vintage. It offers plum and blackberry aromas along with bay leaf, boldo and menthol hints over an ashy marmalade core. Indulgent, plush and rich on the palate, the soft and overwhelming mouthfeel lingers long with a precise, juicy and slightly refreshing personality. The 2021 vintage is indeed a standout for Clos Apalta.<br/><br/>

The 2021 Le Petit Clos is composed of 68% Carménère, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak. It features black and red fruit with a distinct floral bouquet, contrasting with the more savory and woody Clos Apalta bottling, and develops additional spice-driven notes after a brief time in the glass. The palate is smooth, creamy and seductive, culminating in a lush and drying finish framed by fine-grained, extracted tannins and a hint of mineral lift. Within the Clos Apalta range, the Le Petit Clos bottling foregrounds its origins and varietal composition a touch more than the more comparatively lavish grand vin, which, to my palate, makes for a close gap between the two.

Refined and structured, offering plenty of graphite and herbal notes up front that give way to a dark chocolate–coated blackberry and spiced plum center, with a twinge of cassis underneath. The tannins show some grip, but the finish also gives a sense of freshness as the core flavors linger nicely. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2036. 9,510 cases made, 1,800 cases imported.