Clos du Lican - Apalta 2021
"I’ve never before smelled a wine like this. The captivating aromas are amazing" - 100 pts by James Suckling
Clos du Lican 2021, the first Chilean Syrah to receive a flawless 100-point rating
Clos du Lican is Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle’s hidden gem. It reflects Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet's passion, hard work, long-term vision and knowledge transmission.
After having succeeded in revealing the Grand Cru that was lying in the Apalta Valley, in 2004, the couple found another magical place only 5km away from Clos Apalta's vineyard. The land was initially covered with enormous granite stones and had never seen a single vine root there. However, the place had a very special energy that in a way, was almost sacred. It convinced Alexandra and Cyril to undergo an extraordinary project to reshape the land and plant vines to produce another fine wine that is as unique as Clos Apalta.
The couple started its new adventure. As Cathedral builders would have done a thousand years ago, planted over 15 hectares of vines, mainly with Syrah. The philosophy is the same here as it is at Clos Apalta: to use organic and biodynamic practices to protect the biodiversity and preserve the purity of the fruit.
Every great achievement is born of a long-term vision. In 2013, Charles de Bournet, 7th generation, took over from his parents and has continued to work on this extraordinary project ever since. The dream came true in 2022, when he launched the first vintage of Clos du Lican.
With the release of Clos du Lican 2021, Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle has once again left its mark on history. Indeed, Clos du Lican 2021 has distinguished itself as the first Chilean Syrah to receive a flawless 100-point rating from James Suckling.
The 2021 Vintage:
Climatic conditions:
The 2021 vintage was challenging due to climatic disruptions and the COVID-19 pandemic. The winter was mild with temperatures slightly higher than average and precipitation greater than the previous year, but still below the historical average. Spring was marked by a wider thermal amplitude and early flowering by 10 days.
The summer was affected by a climatic phenomenon called an "atmospheric river" which resulted in 68 mm of rain during the veraison. Temperatures then dropped by 12% compared to the historical average. The month of February was particularly cloudy, leading to fungal disease pressure on early-ripening grape varieties such as Syrah and Grenache.
Tasting notes:
Color: Dark purple red with violet and inky hues.
Nose: Elegant nose of berries and flowers, with black and red cherries along with dark spices and herbs at the finish.
Palate: Elegant and dense palate, with abundant round tannins and freshness in the finish. Very long in the aftertaste with more berries and spices.