As a general winemaking philosophy, Cuvée Alexandre Merlot’s direction is toward elegance, balance and ageing potential. To express the terroir of Apalta is the mission of Casa Lapostolle, using very natural process with minimal intervention.
“It all started with our Cuvée Alexandre Merlot back in 1994: a wine that had showed its consistency for more than a decade.” – Jacques Begarie, Chief Winemaker.
Made with Organic Grapes and Biodynamic vineyard management.
Valle del Rapel is located in the central part of Chile. It exhibits a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with warm and dry days and pleasantly cool nights during the growing season, as a result of cold breezes coming from the Andes. Rapel has also a cool influence from the Pacific’s Humboldt Current, which lowers temperatures in the coastal areas of the valley. This leads to warm days with ample sunlight and dry conditions, allowing a slow ripening period and maintain its natural acidity that is a characteristic of this elegant Merlot.
The yields in 2021 ended up being generous, and most importantly with grapes that produced wines of excellent quality.
In 2014, Clos Apalta gave birth to its second wine, Le Petit Clos de Clos Apalta, in order to offer a different interpretation of this unique terroir, using the same grapes, but in different proportion, and offering young vines a chance to prove their worth before thay can make it into the Grand Vin.
The 2020 vintage was a challenging one due to climatic disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the dry conditions resulted in excellent sanitary conditions for the fruit. The harvest began 10 days earlier than usual and was carried out with sector-by-sector, block-by-block harvesting due to uneven maturity. Quality control and selective harvesting led to reasonable yields of excellent quality. This season has delivered elevated levels of most compounds of the grape must: sugars, tannins, and an unexpectedly impressive acidity. The COVID-19 pandemic added to the challenge. Despite the hurdle, the team’s unfaltering commitment resulted in a successful harvest.
“Le Petit Clos is a different interpretation of the Clos Apalta Terroir, using the mastery of blending that is the heart of the winemaking philosophy from the Domaines Bournet ”. – Jacques Begarie, Chief Winemaker.
Made with Organic Grapes and Biodynamic vineyard management.
Château Bibian is a historic (and one of the oldest) property in Listrac-Médoc, located between the more famous communes of Margaux and Saint-Julien.
The château, purchased by the Meyre family in 1999 and a Cru Bourgeois Supérieur classified, is today run by the 6th generation, where Nathalie and Julien Meyre, in consultation with the famous wine consultant (Michel Rolland), carry on the family traditions and produce classic Bordeaux wines.
This wine is a rigorous selection of young plots of vines from Château Bibian and it comes from the best terroirs of Listrac.
Le Fleurs de Bibian can be enjoyed in its youth, to savor all its roundness and fruitiness.
The estate’s Second Wine offers a different interpretation of the Calon terroir. Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is totally distinct from the First Wine, Château Calon Ségur Grand Cru Classé. “It benefits from a true expression of its own”, underlines Vincent Millet. “The plots are separated out from the beginning.”
Le Marquis de Calon Ségur provides immediate enjoyment, warmth and a velvety texture. It is carefully aged generally for 17 months in oak barrels, a third of which are new. Deliciously easy-drinking, silky and expressive, its charm comes to the fore, while at the same time bringing to our minds the elegance of the Grand Vin.
For more info, visit Château Calon Ségurwebsite.
VARIETALS
57% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Family owned since 1810, the Château Cap Léon Veyrin originates from the meeting of Château Cap Léon and the Veyrin estate. Cape comes from the word “head”. In fact, the vineyards of Cap Léon are located on the highest points of Listrac-Médoc, favoring natural drainage and ideal sunshine. Nathalie and Julien Meyre, are the 6th generation of the family running this property, perpetuate the tradition: predominance of Merlot, collage with egg white, aging of 12 months in barrels, manual harvesting for young parcels and for old vines, while bringing their dynamism to this renowned Cru Bourgeois du Médoc.
Le Petit Leon is de-facto the second wine of Château Cap Leon Veyrin, even though some grapes are bought in for this wine. The quality is outstanding and the presentation top drawer. Certainly one to look out for if you are on the hunt for quality at a great price.
For more info, visit Château Cap Léon Veyrinwebsite.
Located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation and dating back to 1365, Château Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the oldest châteaux in Bordeaux. This magnificent property entered a new era in its history following its acquisition by Daniel and Florence Cathiard in 1990. Driven with passion and ambition by the Cathiards, Château Smith Haut Lafitte has established itself as one of the finest properties in the Graves region, with wines world-renowned for their elegance and style, both red and white.
The Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is is the second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte but produced and cared for with the same attention reserved for the château’s first wine. The 2019 is made from vines averaging 11 years old. The château uses its own vines, thanks to a mother vine preserved in the nursery on Lalande Island.
The brand Le Preare was created by Cantina Valpolicella Negrar to pay tribute to a history, where previous generations very often paid a very high price, allowing todays generation of vine growers to benefit from the hard work of their forefathers.
Located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico, this area was also known for its prestigious stones, such as the red marble of Verona. It was widely used by the Venetians when building their villas. However, the use of other local stones, less prestigious then marble, was wide spread. The antique mines where the stone was taken, were called “preare” in local dialect. The local stones were used to separate the vineyards and also to build the terraces, allowing the vines to grow also on steep slopes.
“Appassimento” is made from indigenous red grape varieties. Following a thorough and rigorous blending process, both the appassimento and traditional methods are fused together in the production of this fine red wine.
The history of Montrose, written in two centuries by three families of owners, is depositary of their spirit, marked by their quest of excellence and legendary vintages. Pioneers in the Médoc, visionary builders and wise managers, all these families knew how to work and valorise this unique terroir. The estate owes them the foundation on which Montrose builds its image today and its unique place in the world of exceptional wines.
Produced on the exceptional terroir of Château Montrose and made in the château’s winery, Saint Estèphe de Montrose is the estate’s third wine and a traditional blend of classic Bordeaux grape varieties. Previously available only to the estate’s owners and employees, it uses wines from younger vines and lees wines.
It was in 1981 that the Marquis Lodovico Antinori, cousin of Piero Antinori, founded the Ornellaia Estate, in the heart of the Bolgheri area, a few kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. Thus, with the first harvest of 1985, what would become an icon among the SuperTuscans was born: the “Ornellaia”. With the inauguration of the company, the world-famous enologist, Michel Rolland, begins to deal with the technical part of the cellar. Subsequently, in the 90s the other two labels were born: “Le Volte” and “Le Serre Nuove”.
Crafted from the same varieties, under the same sky, from the same philosophy: Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is a proud second vin, which has the ability to foretell the personality of the estate’s flagship wine. Together, the two wines provide their own distinctive points of view. The pleasure of sipping Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia evolves over time, adding the charm of maturity to the vigour of youth.
“Aromatic complexity is the hallmark of this vintage, with fruits of the forest aromas (blackberries, raspberries and red cherries), accompanied by wild rose, pink pepper and liquorice notes. Nice tannins with a savoury and crunchy finish.” – Olga Fusari – Winemaker
It was in 1981 that the Marquis Lodovico Antinori, cousin of Piero Antinori, founded the Ornellaia Estate, in the heart of the Bolgheri area, a few kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. Thus, with the first harvest of 1985, what would become an icon among the SuperTuscans was born: the “Ornellaia”. With the inauguration of the company, the world-famous enologist, Michel Rolland, begins to deal with the technical part of the cellar. Subsequently, in the 90s the other two labels were born: “Le Volte” and “Le Serre Nuove”.
Crafted from the same varieties, under the same sky, from the same philosophy: Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is a proud second vin, which has the ability to foretell the personality of the estate’s flagship wine. Together, the two wines provide their own distinctive points of view. The pleasure of sipping Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia evolves over time, adding the charm of maturity to the vigour of youth.
“Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2020 unabashedly reveals generous aromas of ripe red fruit. Soft and enticing on the palate, showing phenomenal balance between body, fullness and elegance.” – Olga Fusari – Winemaker
It was in 1981 that the Marquis Lodovico Antinori, cousin of Piero Antinori, founded the Ornellaia Estate, in the heart of the Bolgheri area, a few kilometers from the Mediterranean coast. Thus, with the first harvest of 1985, what would become an icon among the SuperTuscans was born: the “Ornellaia”. With the inauguration of the company, the world-famous enologist, Michel Rolland, begins to deal with the technical part of the cellar. Subsequently, in the 90s the other two labels were born: “Le Volte” and “Le Serre Nuove”.
Instantly enjoyable, versatile and playful, Le Volte dell’Ornellaia is all about conviviality. This bright red wine opens the door to the world of Ornellaia and simply shares the passion for quality that is experienced every day on our estate and with every sip. Le Volte dell’ Ornellaia is a fine wine for spontaneous wine lovers and needs no ceremony.
Originally from Schönberg, in the Rhineland, fleeing the consequences of the defeat of Napoleon I, the Yung family origins settled for more than a century in Algeria. Already listed in the first edition of Féret des Vins d’Oranie in 1886, the family developed its vineyard until independence, until forced to abandon the wine estates it had owned since 1859.
In 1862 Charles Young joined his older brother, already settled in Gironde. He then decides to acquire for his 2 children and his 2 nephews, the Château Haut Mondain, a 42-hectare AOC Bordeaux wine estate, followed then by Château Barail, Les Hauts de Palette and Moulin de Tassin.
Since 2020, the Charles Yung & Fils vineyards have been committed to a societal and environmental approach by obtaining High Environmental Value, level 3 (HVE) certification.
Les Griffons de Pichon Baron is one of the second wines of the property. Created since the 2012 vintage, it has a pure and direct character.
The grapes which make up this wine’s blend come primarily from gravelly plots of land near the Gironde estuary, a good environment for Cabernet-Sauvignon.
Les Griffons offers a vigorous and fresh tasting experience, full-bodied and clean, overflowing with energy.
Château du Tertre is a property steeped in history. This property has existed since the 12th century and its vineyard of 52 hectares remains unchanged since 1855. Since the 19th century, their wines have become worldwide recognised thanks to the classification of 1855 which makes Château du Tertre a Grand Cru Classé de Margaux.
Crafted with the same precision, passion, and expertise as Château du Tertre, Les Hauts du Tertre reveals another side of the estate, that of a wine best discovered and appreciated in its younger years. Lively, with silky tannins, its fruity and spicy notes blend with the delicacy of Margaux wines.
Download Tasting Note
