Lapostolle Apalta 2023 is a flavorful Chilean Cabernet blend with juicy red fruits, a touch of herbs, and some spicy notes. Medium to full-bodied with smooth tannins and a lively finish, it’s perfect for grilled or stewed meats. Ready to enjoy now but can also age well over the next several years.

The Wine Advocate | RP 90
Published: May 7, 2026
Drink: 2023-2027

The 2023 Apalta continues the lifted, floral bouquet and core of red and blue fruits that permeate the Lapostolle lineup. Sleek and polished in the mouth, it concludes with a vibrant finish that is framed with refined, chalky tannins and grounded by an elegantly rich, creamy undercurrent. The blend is 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Carmenère, 9% Merlot and 8% Petit Verdot.

Founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and Cyril de Bournet, Lapostolle is now managed by the seventh generation Charles-Henri de Bournet. Over the past decade, the Lapostolle winemaking team has gradually evolved and modernized its approach, moving away from the heavy intervention that characterized its earlier vintages toward a style that emphasizes balance, lower pH and greater aromatic complexity. Technical Director Andrea Leon does an excellent job of ensuring that ripeness levels, textural adjustments, extraction methods and élevage achieve their intended effects without stripping the wines of their sense of origin. The portfolio hierarchy follows a Burgundian-like classification model, starting with regional offerings made with a mix of estate and purchased grapes, then gradually zooms in on the single-vineyard bottlings—beginning with the exceptional Lapostolle La Parcelle 8 Cabernet Sauvignon—before culminating in the Clos Apalta, the flagship Carmenère-based blend that combines the estate's top parcels, and the Clos du Lican Syrah, Côte de Madame Viognier and Côte de Monsieur, all of which come from a separate but neighboring site dedicated to Rhône varieties. The winery's average annual production is around 100,000 cases.

Lapostollewines.com

VINTAGE: 2023
TYPE OF WINE: Cabernet Blend
D.O.: Apalta
VARIETIES: 54% Cabernet Sauvignon  23% Merlot  10% Carmenere 7% Cabernet Franc 6% Syrah
HARVEST: April 17th May 5 th
PRODUCTION: 10.040 cases of 9L equivalent.

TASTING NOTES
COLOR: Intense and deep red, with dark purple edges.
NOSE: Expressive red fruit, fine and well-balanced nose with some aromas of herbs and black spices.
PALATE: Round and pleasant structure, juicy tannins and lively finish.

SERVICE AND FOOD PAIRING
Decant for 30 minutes and serve between 16°C (65°F).
Ideal companion for stewed and grilled meat in a variety of preparations.

TECHNICAL DATA
Alcohol Content: 14.5% vol.
pH: 3.66
Total Acidity: 3.30 gr/L (SO4)
Residual Sugar: 2.03 gr/L
AVAILABLE FORMATS: 75cL.

WINEMAKING
Maceration Time: 28 days.
Fermentation Type: 100% in Stainless Steel Tanks.
Fermentation Temperature: 24 C- 28 C
Ageing: 70% of the blend was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels of second & third use; 30% in stainless steel tanks.
Bottling Date: September 2022.
Ageing Potential: 8 years.