Le Petit Clos 2017
Le Petit Clos is a different interpretation of the Clos Apalta Terroir, using the mastery of blending that is the heart of the winemaking philosophy from the Domaines Bournet-LapostolleJacques Begarie, Technical Director of Clos Apalta.
Tasting Notes
Color
Superb color, dark garnet red, deep and intense.
Nose
Spicy and subtle nose; great elegance and aromatic complexity with notes of ripe fruit (blueberry, blackcurrant, black cherry, blackberry…), opening on toasted and fine woody notes.
Palate
Frank and soft attack with savory, silky and well-integrated tannins. Full, round and fleshy palate ending with a magnificent aromatic persistence full of finesse.
Vintage Report
APPELATION
D.O. Apalta.
BLEND
68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Carmenère, 9% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot
HARVEST
From February 23rd to April 25th.
GROWING CONDITIONS
The 2017 vintage was shaped by extreme conditions which promoted deadly, tinderbox conditions for the propagation of devastating wildfires, with a total of 600,000 hectares of forest. To our great relief, our vines were spared and suffered no smoke damage, which was soon confirmed on tasting the different parcels of grapes.
Winter was exceptionally dry at Clos Apalta, with a 35% hydric deficit compared to the longterm average. Spring was drier and cold. In November, marginally higher temperatures and marginal accumulation of rain resulted in budbreak commencing 10 days early. Summer was unbearably hot, with scorching temperatures hovering between 32°C and 35°C. After the first ten days of March, both minimum and maximum temperatures had dropped markedly. Such temperature variations allowed the grapes to complete phenolic ripening, promoting intense colour and retaining intense fruit character and freshness.
In the end, conditions for ripening were excellent and consistent with a classic year.
Technical sheet
Find out more with our detailed technical sheet.
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