Cote De Monsieur - Valle De Colchagua 2023
Cote de Monsieur, the expression of Clos du Lican’s unique terroir.
Clos du Lican is our hidden gem vineyard in the Apalta Valley, specifically in the San Jose area. Recognized as an official DO since May 2018, the Apalta Valley is known throughout Chile for the superb quality of its wines. The Clos du Lican vineyard was bought in 2004 by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet, only 5km away from Clos Apalta. The vineyard is a 3km strip with an eastern exposure, going uphill from 245 to 443 meters a.s.l and surrounded by the mountains. Mr. Jacques Marnier Lapostolle, Alexandra’s father, personally came to Chile in June 2006 to have a better understanding of the project’s reach and scope while he said it would take a miracle to pull this project off. The land was originally covered with huge granite stones. Carried by their vision, Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and Cyril the Bournet started a gigantic work to shape the vineyard foot by foot. As Cathedral builders would have done a thousand years ago, they lifted those rocks and moved them around to create this sacred land of vine.
The wines produced by this vineyard, including Cote de Madame, Cote du Monsieur, and Clos du Lican, are a genuine reflection of the land. Elegant wines that possess exceptional ageing potential, depth, color, and structure. The Clos du Lican proyect is the achievement of 3 generations of passion, hard work and dedication.
The 2023 vintage:
The 2023 vintage in Apalta was early and warm, following a winter marked by ongoing drought, although rainfall was higher than in 2022 and helped replenish soil water reserves. The final phase of La Niña brought cooler winter and early spring conditions, but from mid-October onward high temperatures and heat waves dominated until early April. Careful irrigation and canopy management were necessary to maintain vine balance and protect the vines from heat stress. The hot and dry conditions also reduced disease pressure, ensuring excellent fruit health. The growing season was 6 to 13 days earlier depending on the variety. Harvest took place entirely by hand from February 22 to April 25, with close monitoring of each vineyard block to pick the grapes at optimal ripeness. Yields were slightly lower (-4%) than the average of the last five vintages. Overall, the wines show excellent quality, with depth, elegance, intense fruit expression, and good freshness, particularly in the whites and rosé, while the reds are very promising.
Tasting notes
COLOR: Beautifull cherry red color with sublte purple hues.
NOSE: Intense nose of berries and spices with fresh red fruit.
PALATE: Juicy tanins, with freshness that opens up towards a medium body and a long finish.