Casa Lapostolle’s Clos Apalta 2020 is the flagship wine of the estate and one of Chile’s most acclaimed reds, produced in the Colchagua Valley at the estate’s own Clos Apalta vineyard. This amphitheater-shaped site, with its unique mix of soils and slopes, is naturally protected and benefits from warm days and cool nights, creating ideal conditions for slow ripening and concentrated fruit. The vineyard has been managed organically and biodynamically for years, with hand harvesting carried out in small lots to ensure precision from the very beginning.

In the cellar, vinification is conducted with meticulous care. Grapes are sorted berry by berry before fermentation takes place in French oak vats, allowing natural gravity flow to minimize handling. Macerations are tailored to each parcel, and the final blend typically emphasizes Carménère with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot adding depth and structure. The wine is then aged in new French oak barrels, often for around 24 months, with careful monitoring to achieve harmony and complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Clos Apalta is released only after this long élevage, representing not just a wine but a project of precision viticulture and craftsmanship. The 2020 vintage continues the legacy of combining Chile’s old-vine Carménère heritage with modern winemaking, delivering a wine that is regarded internationally as one of South America’s great icons.