I have always been fascinated by Chile's wines. It is a unique country with perfect conditions for viticulture. Chile is a narrow, elongated country. The north-south extension is about 6000 km and the east-west extension only about 200 km. In the north is the Atacama Desert and in the south the Chilean part of Patagonia and the Antarctic. The Andes run from north to south in the east of the country, while the Pacific Ocean borders Chile in the west. Why this detailed information? This geographical location means that Chile is protected in all directions. The vineyard sites are high and for the most part quite flat. This makes cultivating the vineyards relatively easy. The climate is warm, but not too hot, as the Pacific exerts a cooling influence. This is ideal for bottling wines with incredible aromas.
Profile
Winemaker: Casa Lapostolle
Grape varieties: 85% Merlot; 10% Carmenère; 4% Syrah and 1% Petit Verdot
Vintage: 2013
Region: Rapel Valley
Soil: very varied, partly granite
Ideal drinking temperature: 16 degrees Celsius
Awards: Wine Enthusiast: 87 points for 2011
Price: from 8,95€ / bottle
The wine
Merlot is a grape variety that produces powerful, but not overpowering wines. When they come from the right region, they bring a lot of fruit and a pleasant amount of spice to the glass - balanced and charming, not overloaded. Just like this representative of Casa Lapostolle. Fresh fruit aromas of plums, strawberries and cherries waft towards you on the nose, followed by typical chocolate and coffee notes. The aroma makes you want to take the first sip. On the palate, it is fresh with a good structure thanks to the ripe tannins that form the backbone of the wine. Our taste buds again perceive a lot of fruit and delicate spice. It "sticks" to the palate for a long time. More of it!
A small proportion of the Merlot was matured for just three months in barrique barrels, giving it a delicate spiciness and a hint of wood.
The winemaker and the region
The winery was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet. Behind Alexandra is the Marnier family, who produce the world-famous Grand Marnier in France and have made a name for themselves in the world of spirits and liqueurs. But the family has also always been active in viticulture, so it is not surprising that Alexandra wanted to set up a winery in Chile together with her husband. Their philosophy is very simple: to produce first-class wines with the help of French expertise and the best terroir in Chile.
Today, Lapostolle cultivates 370 hectares of vineyards in three different wine regions, including the Rapel Valley, where the featured Merlot comes from. The Rapel Valley is one of the best wine regions in Chile. It is divided into two sub-regions: The Cachapoal Valley and the Colchagua Valley. The grapes for the Merlot mainly come from the latter.
Goes perfectly with
A relaxed girls' evening, but also with spicy cheese, a mushroom risotto, spaghetti Bolognese and much more, as it is a very compatible wine.
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