Mission Codename Parcelle Post
“The old-vine character comes through clearly here” - James Suckling
Lapostolle has been in the vanguard of quality, collectable Chilean since its founding twenty years ago – earning more than six 100 point scores and dozens of 99’s and 98’s along the way and raising the bar for other greats like Almaviva and Don Melchor.
The Parcelle 8? From the absolute PEAK of their lineup – scale to the top of the Cabernet mountain with us, and then base jump back down to a modest price elevation with us!
Made from some of the oldest un-grafted Cabernet vines in the world and only in great years. An ultra-rare 100% pure Cab from the over 110-year-old vines of Parcel 8 of the Clos Apalta estate!!! And available today for a stunning 45% off
The wine? It’s a beauty. Almost electric on the palate, concentrated by never heavy, with flavors of black fruit, wild herbs, and high-quality toasted oak that dance with balletic grace.
As James Suckling says, “there’s no doubt that Clos Apalta is one of the world’s greatest red wines.” Clos Apalta is a former winner of Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year award emphasizing that “the wine’s price has remained relatively modest through the years, considering the investment behind it, particularly so in comparison to prices for benchmark wines from regions such as Bordeaux, Napa and Tuscany” TK
Parcelle 8? It is a singlular bottling off that vineyard. It is the oldest vine block in Clos Apalta, planted in 1907– just before the Ford Model T was released. Through the 114 years to this vintage they have thrived, and made up the backbone of their perfect-scoring bottling. It still does. But starting in 2015, the family decided it was too good.
Could this be the most fascinating Cab ever overseen by the ubiquitous Michel Rolland? We thought so. A whole other animal. Gnarly, muscular, yet lifted and fresh, complex as the Da Vinci Code.
As usual, with such a beauty, there isn’t much to go around. But this rarity begs for a spot in any Cabernet lover’s cellar! Especially at under $100!!!
Ahem… and it’s almost perfect, so be nimble…
98 Points – James Suckling “The old-vine character comes through clearly here, with bark and mushroom undertones to the blackberries and blueberries. Oyster shells with seaweed attached. It’s medium-bodied with chewy tannins that are medium-grained and tell the story of these old vines, most of which were planted in 1907. Give this four or five years to come around. Better after 2028, but it’s joyful to taste its potential and history.”
What the Winery Says
2021 'La Parcelle 8' Vieilles Vignes Apalta Cabernet Sauvignon
- Consulting oenologist
- Michel Rolland
- Technical director
- Jacques Begarie
- Varietal
- 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Vintage
- 2021
- Alcohol
- 14.5%
- Appellation
- Apalta DO, Colchagua Valley, Chile
- pH
- 3.66 g/L
- Total acidity
- 3.7 g/L
- Aging
- 26 months
- Barrels
- 100% new French oak
About the Winery
Lapostolle