LAPOSTOLLE | Cuvée Alexandre | Syrah | 2019
syrah

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Founded in 1994 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril, the winery has been focused on showcasing the extraordinary terroir of Apalta ever since, by applying french winemaking practices. This project emerged from a shared passion to produce world-class wines that reflect the unique chilean viticulture. Over the years, Lapostolle has gained international praise for its premium portfolio, particularly the Cuvée Alexandre line, which stands as a testament to their commitment to excellence and heritage.
Today we are going to review a wine that hardly requires any introduction, as this is one of the most recognizable wine labels from the Colchagua Valley of Chile – Cuvée Alexandre Syrah 2019 by Lapostolle. In a world where bolder is better, syrah is the perfect choice, as it is darker and spicier than cabernet sauvignon and contains a high amounts of health-invigorating antioxidants. Syrah, also known as Shiraz, can be vinified in two major styles: old-world style and new-world style. The old-world syrah wines tend to have more acidity and displays earthy-herbaceous aromas on the nose, while the new-world shiraz wines are usually dusty and fruit-forward, with lots of spice and nuanced hints of smoke. In order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity to the final blend, this wine has been aged for 20 months in small, French oak barriques (50% new oak and 50% used oak), with additional bottle ageing time before it was deemed ready for the market release.

The Cuvée Alexandre line is focused on bringing the finest expression of a each grape variety planted on the estate. The region’s unique soil composition and climate conditions results in very elegant and complex wines with great structure, depth, color and an excellent ageing potential. The grapes for this wine were sourced from selected parcels of the Clos du Lican Estate‘s vineyards, located in the Valle de Apalta near the town of San Jose (a relatively cool terroir, located betwixt the Coastal Mountain Range and the Pacific Ocean in the Colchagua Valley), planted on clay-rich soil at 185-430 meters above sea level.

The Colchagua Valley is nestled between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, therefore it benefits from cooling coastal breezes and a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The valley’s varied soils range from clay and sandy loam in the lower areas to granitic and volcanic deposits in the foothills, offering ideal conditions for cultivating premium red grape varieties like cabernet sauvignon and carmenere. These elements combine to create wines with rich, ripe flavors, balanced by high natural acidity, and that distinct regional dusty character that chilean wines are famous for.

The Apalta Valley, situated on a North to South exposure, which is quite rare in Chile, is characterized by its unique soil composition, which is composed of clay and quartz, providing excellent drainage and fostering the deep root systems of the vines. The region’s microclimate, influenced by the surrounding Andes Mountains, offers deep and cool nights that help to preserve acidity and develop complex aromatics in the grapes. The Tinguiririca river rests on the southern side and the hills from the Coastal Cordillera surround the vineyard like a horseshoe, which are both integral in forming this unique terroir.

color: deep & opaque garnet color
clarity: hazy garnet shades at the rim

In the glass, the wine presents a deep and opaque garnet color, complemented by hazy garnet shades at the rim of the glass, indicating its rich and mature profile.

intensity: rich & vibrant
fruit character: dehydrated

The olfactory expression reveals a rich and vibrant aromatic profile with multi-faceted structure. The foreground delivers black fruits such as dark cherry, black plum, cassis, blackberry, and prune, intertwined with nuanced earthy notes of granite, pencil lead, crushed gravel, and asphalt. In the background, spices like peppercorn, nutmeg, and anise make their presence felt, supported by subtle oaky hints of tobacco and toasted oakwood, alongside some elegant and noble undertones of dried herbs and leather.

sweetness: dry | acidity: medium+ | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: good
finish: long | aftertaste: seedy & grippy

On the palate, this wine showcases a bright, crisp, and rich character that embodies the varietal typicity of the syrah grape variety. The mouthfeel is well-structured, with ripe and seedy tannins that create a grippy-astringent texture. The balance of dry and dehydrated flavors, coupled with crisp acidity and a touch of alcoholic warmth, forms a gratifying and lengthy aftertaste. This is a textbook example of a chilean syrah wine, harmoniously blending old-world elegance with new-world flamboyance.

maturity: in its prime | drink now or in the next 2 to 3 years
verdict: great | a must try wine | a wine that has all the traits to become legendary

Overall, this is a full-bodied syrah wine that is at its prime, ready to be enjoyed today or within the next 2 to 3 years. Its exquisite balance promises an exciting experience for those who have a soft spot for this grape variety, as it manages to deliver power, elegance and that unmistakable spicy-dusty character that only the best of the Northern Rhône’s syrah wines are capable to deliver.

For an exquisite wine tasting experience, consider pairing this wine with extra rare tournedos rossini, where the rich flavors of the meat will be beautifully complemented by the wine’s vibrant acidity and intricate layers of fruit and spice. The bold nature of the wine will harmonizes perfectly with the rich and savory accents of the dish, resulting in an explosion of flavours and textures. Cheers!
LAPOSTOLLE | Cuvée Alexandre | Syrah | 2019
variety: syrah
country: Chile
region: Colchagua Valley | ApaltaValley
rating: 94.7

Lapostolle was born in 1994 under the idea to magnify the exceptional terroir of Apalta with French expertise. Shaping the vineyard foot by foot, the family succeeded in making Lapostolle one of the most premium winery of Chile, recognized as “New World Winery of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast in 2008.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!