AN ICONIC NEW RED FROM APALTA VALLEY, CHILE

Lapostolle was founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet upon their discovery of a unique Clos in the Apalta Valley sheltering 100-year-old pre-phylloxera vines. They realized the site’s potential for producing world-class wines, and from that day, the Chilean chapter of Lapostolle was born. 2015 Lapostolle La Parcelle 8, named for the first plot Alexandra and Cyril saw upon arriving in the Valley, is an iconic new expression from Apalta.

A 100-percent varietal, single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, La Parcelle is a reflection of the vineyard’s unique terroir resulting from the Tinguiririca River to its south and the Coastal Cordillera hills that surround it in a horseshoe shape. In the glass, it entices with a beautiful deep ruby red color and opens on the nose with intense fruit, herbs and spice notes. On the palate, the wine showcases a classic structure with elegant tannins, fruit and black spice flavors, and a long-lasting, velvety finish.

A Delicious Southern Rhone Dessert Wine

On the edge of the tiny French village of Beaumes de Venise, fifth-generation family-owned Domaine des Bernardins produces Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise. The 2021 features notes of butterscotch and glazed fruit; the palate is rich and maintains a surprising freshness. There is a note of quince paste on the finish, and also herbes de Provence.

Original owner Louis Castaud was concerned about the disappearance of the village’s traditional production methods, and after 10 years of hard work, he achieved appellation status for Muscat de Beaumes de Venise in 1945 (for the 1943 vintage). Today, the previously monk-owned estate is directed by Castaud’s granddaughter Elisabeth, husband Andrew, and their son Romain, yet Castaud’s wife Renée Castaud remains active in day-to-day operations.

ICONIC

By Sam Micatrotto