2019 Clos Apalta Colchagua Chile 750 ml

The 99-point 2019 Clos Apalta is nothing short of stunning—a Bordeaux-inspired blend that stands with any red wine in the world. But unlike wines at this level of quality in Bordeaux or Napa, it won’t set you back $500. In fact, you can put a six-pack in your cellar for the price of a single bottle from some of its peers.

Grown on biodynamically farmed vines with a century of age, crafted by 100-point maestro Michel Rolland, and given a no-expense-spared treatment in the cellar by one of the most committed winery owners in the world, “there’s no doubt that Clos Apalta is one of the world’s greatest red wines,” according to JamesSuckling.com.

The 2019 vintage was warm—perfect for growing the kind of lusciously ripe grapes that Rolland routinely turns into bottles of powerful opulence—and the Clos Apalta shows off those ideal conditions with one of their greatest-ever wines. It’s one that belongs in the cellar of anyone who enjoys drinking the world’s very best.

Carménère (which composes 70% of the blend), a grape that used to grow in Bordeaux but is now largely extinct there, gives this wine its haunting fragrance. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot fill in the gaps, imbuing the palate with a weight and intensity we expect from Rolland’s best bottles.

Clos Apalta enjoys a growing season that is long and even, meaning ripeness is almost guaranteed. The winery is sequestered in the horseshoe of the region’s coastal mountains, which cast shadows that mitigate the blinding sun, ensuring the grapes maintain their natural stock of acidity—and preserving a dancer’s grace and elegance in the naturally powerful wine.