If the name Lapostolle rings a bell, there is a reason.  The Marnier-Lapostolle family founded and still own the famed French liquer Grand Marnier and the french winery Chateau de Sancerre in the Loire Valley.  In 1994 Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet, both of whom are French, teamed up with Chilean Don Jose Rabat Gorchs, and voile'!  Casa Lapostolle was launced as joint venture between these two families.  The winery is one of the stars in the up and coming Chilean wine industry.  For the last few years, Casa Lapostolle has also retained the talents of world renowed Bordeaux wine maker Michel Rolland as a formal winemaking consultant.

Casa Lapostolle makes several different Chilean wines, but it's best wines are it's Caberenets.  They produce an inexpensive cabernet under the standard Casa Lapostolle label (full retail about 10-15 dollars).  They also produce an outstanding but pricey cabernet labeled as "Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta" (retail about $65).  The Cuvee Alexandre represents the middle tier, and retails for about $22, but can be found at discount retailers for about 17 dollars.

I tried this wine immediately upon release and found it somewhat disjointed.  What a difference a few years make.  This 20 dollar wine from the 2001 vintage can compete with wines three times the price.  A wonderful heady bouquet of red and black fruits and a ripe, sweet palate.  The wine can easily sit in the cellar for another few years, but my advice is to drink now, as the wine seems to be at it's peak.  For those who have cellars, if you buy any of the newer vintages, let them sit for a few years.  You'll be glad you did.

4 stars

 

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