We met Charles-Henri de Bournet Marnier Lapostolle, the owner of Clos Apalta, a few years ago at a James Suckling South America event. As is often the case, the vintner resembles the wine: a polished and aristocratic exterior (we wish we could afford his tailor) concealing a burning intensity and intelligence.

His parents founded the original estate in 1994, acquiring 74 acres of vines high in the Colchagua Valley’s Apalta Valley—some of the most coveted terroir in South America. This 2022 Cuvée Alexandre emerges from the estate's prized Apalta vineyards, where dramatic slopes and poor, rocky soils naturally restrict yields and intensify flavors. Here, at the foothills of the Andes Mountains, old vines sink their roots deep into mineral-rich soils, creating wines of remarkable complexity.

Under the guidance of technical director Jacques Begarie, Lapostolle maintains a steadfast commitment to sustainable viticulture. The winery achieved organic certification in 2011, followed by biodynamic practices that honor the estate's unique microclimate and biodiversity. These methods not only enhance the expression of terroir but represent the family's multi-generational vision for environmental stewardship.

The meticulous approach continues in their gravity-flow winery, designed by renowned Chilean architect Ignacio Covarrubias to blend seamlessly into Apalta's hillsides. Here, the team practices minimal intervention to preserve the purest expression of Apalta's terroir.

About Apalta Valley