Lapostolle Casa Merlot

Wine information: Lapostolle was founded by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet in 1994. The Marnier Lapostolle family, founders and owners of the world-renowned liqueur Grand Marnier, is famous for producing spirits and liqueurs, but the family has also been involved in winemaking for generations. In creating Lapostolle, the family has pursued the same uncompromising approach to quality that made Grand Marnier a global success. Its objective is as simple as it is ambitious: to create world-class wines using French expertise and the superb terroirs of Chile Today, Lapostolle owns 370 hectares in three different vineyards and produce a total of 200.000 cases spread over Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Carmenère, and Syrah. Lapostolle winery is located in the town of Cunaco, right next to Santa Cruz. It is the original winery, where Lapostolle was founded in 1994 and today it is here where both the Casa and Cuvée Alexandre wines are produced. With a traditional Chilean old hacienda style, it has a production capacity of 3,300,000 litres in stainless steel and French oak tanks, and more than 3.500 French Oak Barrels. After many years of hard work at Lapostolle, they finally completed the organic certification process for all our three vineyard properties. On September 30, 2011, the registered and accredited German-based environmental certification company CERES – Certification of Environmental Standards – authorized all Lapostolle estates in compliance with Chilean, North American, and European required standard. Today all three of Lapostolle's estates – Atalayas, Las Kuras and Apalta – do not use any artificial fertilizers, chemical pesticides, herbicides, plant growth regulators or genetically modified organisms. Instead they have integrated animals, bees, organic compost, recycling and the proper treatment of water, among many other tactics, to fulfill our vineyard management and winemaking duties. Lapostolle have just releasde the Cuvée Alexandre Syrah Los Kuras 2009, the inaugural wine from the portfolio to be officially certified “Made with Organic Grapes".

Rapel Valley exhibits very good conditions to grow premium Merlot grapes. It is located in the central part of Chile, including the sub Valleys of Cachapoal and Colchagua. It exhibits a semi – arid Mediterranean climate with a winter – only rainfall pattern. During the growing season there are warm and dry days and pleasantly cool nights as a result of cold breezes coming from the Andes Mountains. Rapel also has 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 for a slow ripening period and good natural acidity. All the grapes are harvested by hand in small cases of 12 kgs and carefully transported to the winery. Post fermentation skin contact lasts for about a week. After fermentation 36% of the wine was aged in French Oak barrels to add an extra layer of complexity. The remaining 64% was aged in stainless steel tanks. The result is intense fruit expression with a smooth and very pleasant palate. 85% Merlot; 6% Malbec; 5% Syrah and 4% Petit Verdot.

Tasting Notes: Lapostolle Casa Merlot is a deep, intense ruby red colour. Clean, fresh and attractive nose dominated by ripe fruit with lots of plum, cherry, cassis and blackberry flavors mixed with spicy notes. On the palate, the wine is dense, filling and well-balanced. The tannins are ripe, refined and smooth, highlighting a discreet and well-integrated oak finish. A very supple and harmonious wine that can be enjoyed now or cellared for a few years.

Food & drink match: The ideal companion for pastas, pork and grilled red meat.

 
     

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