Clos Apalta Prelude 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 15 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Founded in the 1990s by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, Clos Apalta is an iconic Chilean winery located in the Apalta area of ​​the Colchagua Valley. Here, the vineyards enjoy unique conditions with north-to-south exposure and a special semi-dry Mediterranean mesoclimate thanks to the presence of the Tinguiririca River on the southern slope and the protection offered by the Coastal Cordillera. The vines are rooted in ancient soils that date back to the Cretaceous period. These soils are composed of granite and granodiorite material, with angular rocks in the hilly areas and alluvial material in the flatter areas. Prelude is a Bordeaux blend of mostly Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, and small additions of Merlot and Petit Verdot from the Apalta wine region. After harvesting and vinifying in temperature-controlled oak vats, the wine ages for a year and a half in French oak barriques (over 80% used). In the glass, the wine reveals a deep, intense color with purple hues. Its aromatic profile is broad and rich, with notes of blackberry and dark fruit, sweet spices and dried figs, and hints of oak on the finish. On the palate, it is complex and concentrated, juicy and rounded, with firm tannins and a well-balanced acidity. The finish is warm, long, and gently spicy. It pairs beautifully with beef tenderloin with porcini mushrooms.