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Casa Lapostolle Releases a New High-End Red Blend
Top Chilean producer is mixing the grape varieties of Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône
Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle has developed Casa Lapostolle into one of Chile's leading wineries, with its flagship Clos Apalta bottling ranking as one of only three Chilean wines to earn a classic rating (95 points or higher on Wine Spectator's 100-point scale). Now she's pushing the boundaries a little further with her new bottling, Borobo, named for the Bordeaux, Rhône and Bourgogne regions of France, whose main grapes constitute the blend.
"You couldn't make this in France; the [appellation] laws are too stiff," said Marnier-Lapostolle, who was born in France but has been producing wine in Chile since 1994. "And this is why France is in crisis—because they don't try new things. It's an exercise to say, 'Hey France, wake up!'"
The Casa Lapostolle Borobo Chile 2001 (88 points, $65) is a blend of 35 percent Pinot Noir, 25 percent Merlot, 20 percent Syrah, 10 percent Carmenère and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are sourced from estate vineyards in the Casablanca Valley and in the Apalta and Requinoa areas of the Rapel Valley.
Though not yet rated in a blind tasting, the wine shows lots of cherry and floral aromas, with dark currant, toast and truffle flavors. It starts off elegantly, like a Pinot Noir, then shows more Syrah-like power on the finish.
"I knew it would be controversial to blend Pinot Noir, but when quality is the ultimate goal, you can take the risk," Marnier-Lapostolle said.
The production is limited, at only 279 cases, and subsequent vintages will be in the same range. Borobo will be officially released on Nov. 1 and will be available at select restaurants and retailers in New York, Las Vegas and Miami.
