Tasting:
Color: Bright light yellow with subtle green notes.
Nose: Very expressive. Delicate floral aromas and sweet notes of fresh tropical fruit, such as mango and papaya.
Palate: Very round and elegant mouth feel with excellent volume,freshness and vibrant acidity, long lasting finish.
Service and Food Pairing: Serve at 12°C (53°F). Ideal companion for seafood, white meats or fish such as salmon and tuna.
Harvest:
This 2013 vintage impressed us with great conditions for growing our Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay in Casablanca. The winter of 2012 in general, was dry and cold, except in june which showed higher temperatures and was also humid. All spring rains where concentrated in october. (71.3mm v/s 29.7mm historical). The temperatures between october and november were a little bit lower than a normal year (2ºC bellow the normal). Summer was colder and more humid. During december, rains of 53.7 mm at Atalayas made it the wettest december known in Lapostolle’s history. These rains supplied our water reserves and allowed the grapevines to develop without the necessity of extra summer irrigation. Only february brought back normal recorded temperatures. All the grapes from our Atalayas Vineyard were hand harvested in small cases of 14 kilos.
Vinification:
As a general winemaking philosophy, in our Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay we look for elegance, balance, freshness and ageing potential. 45% was fermented in French barrels and 55% in stainless steel tanks. Our Cuvée Alexandre Chardonnay was 100% aged in French oak barrels for 10 months (23% in new French oak barrel, 47% second use barrels and 30% in third use French oak barrel). The result is a well integrated oak with elegant structure to enhance the natural acidity and freshness of this grape.
No malolactic fermentation was done.
Creamy and lush, with concentrated flavors of ripe pear, apple tart and dried tropical fruit. Offers mouthfilling spiciness and a long finish of lemon meringue and allspice. Drink now through 2018. 9,550 cases made. –KM - Wine Spectator Magazine 89 Points
