Michel Rolland & Grand Marnier project! Color: Bright and deep red ruby with a purple robe. Nose: Apalta-s vineyard fruit expression as its best. Plums, cherries, blackberries and blackcurrant with sweet spices coming from elegant French oak aromas. Black spices from the Carmenère gives a unique and complex additional Mouth: Powerful and deep structure that surprises. Soft and chewy palate that evolve towards a long and pleasant finish with a very well achieved balance. Service and food pairing. Ready to drink now or cellar for several years. Decant and serve at 16-18. Ideal companion for meats and elaborate dishes. Wine Enthusiast Dense and solid, this is top-flight Chilean Merlot without any hints of green to drag it down. The nose deals polished oak and bright berry aromas; the palate offers a perfect feel and impressive plum, berry, chocolate and vanilla flavors. Properly tannic and balanced. Score: 91. —Michael Schachner, September 01, 2007. Wine Advocate The Cuvee Alexandre series are single vineyard selections named after proprietor Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle. The 2005 Merlot “Cuvee Alexandre – Apalta Vineyard" has 15% Carmenere in the blend. Purple-colored, it has an attractive nose of black currant, blueberry, vanilla, and clove. The wine has good weight on the palate with layers of black fruits and a firm structure. The finish is a bit tannic and should round out with 1-2 years of further bottle age. Score: 88. —Jay Miller, June 2007. Wine Spectator Offers a solid mix of herb, ripe plum and cocoa flavors, with a firm toasty edge to the finish and a lingering vanilla hint. Drink now through 2008. 18,000 cases made. Score: 88. —James Molesworth, July 31, 2007. |