Clos Apalta 2019

A dark, brooding nose with hints of smoked meat and figs. Juicy and intense, you get power, acidity and poise. There is lots of finesse in this wine; you feel the step up from the second wine in the detail of the slightly grainy yet very present tannins and the sculpting of the fruit—blackcurrants, red cherries, plums and balsamic touches. There’s a truly stylish element here: it’s generous and giving but not overly so. It’s still rich and concentrated and you do notice the 15% alcohol, but it feels as if they’ve slightly lifted off the pedal, allowing the different elements to shine in their own right. Smooth and utterly seductive, the texture and the lingering, slightly chalky note stays on the tongue while the fruit goes on and on. A lovely wine. This has one of the highest percentages of Carménère ever at 70%, with 4% Petit Verdot completing the blend. Aged 24 months in French oak barrels (90% new), followed by one year in bottle. Biodynamic.