INTRODUCTION
When the Marnier-Lapostolle company decided to expand their fine wine business, they conducted extensive studies of vineyards throughout the world. They sought the ideal climate and soil conditions for the creation of truly world-class wines and found them, after an exhaustive search, in Chile, in the Rapel Valley, 100 miles south of Santiago.
Alexandra Marnier-Lapostolle, Chairperson of the new Casa Lapostolle Winery, recruited world- renowned winemaker Michel Rolland to create their selection of distinctive New World wines. Rolland was inspired by the vineyards: protected by coastal mountains, the area enjoyed warm days and cool nights, ideal growing conditions for producing perfectly ripe, balanced grapes. A US$12 million invested in the winery and vineyards was undertaken to update all facilities, insuring the preservation of balance and the natural pure fruit character in the wine.
The goal at Casa Lapostolle is to produce complex wines of excellent quality that do not require long-term ageing to be appreciated.
The strict adherence to traditional French winemaking techniques, combined with state-of-the-art facilities and a superb microclimate in the Rapel Valley, have made Casa Lapostolle one of the new shining stars in the world of wines today.

CASA LAPOSTOLLE MERLOT

The Merlot grapes at Casa Lapostolle achieve their perfect ripeness and full flavour in the superb growing conditions of Chile. French winemaker Michel Rolland carefully selected and crafted this Merlot to create a wine with elegance and finesse.. Thank to its soft and balanced tannins, Casa Lapostolle Merlot is fruity, full bodied and supple. The perfect wine with any meal.

CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC

Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes, this wine has a rich texture, fresh, ripe fruit flavour and the characteristic smoky-flinty taste of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Excellent balance between fruit and acidity. Hailed by celebrated wine critic Robert Parker Jr. as the finest Sauvignon Blanc I have tasted from South America

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

A deeply coloured, rich round and supple wine. This exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon has been aged in small, new oak French barrels and, while approachable now, is capable of ageing in the bottle for several years.

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CHARDONNAY
A rich and complex wine with an exotic tropical fruit character. Made from 100% Chardonnay, half of which was fermented in small oak casks, with the remaining half fermented in stainless steel.

            

CUVEE ALEXANDRE

The CUVEE ALEXANDRE range of wines at Casa Lapostolle is dedicated to Alexandre Marnier-Lapostolle, creator of the prestigious GRAND MARNIER liqueur.

CASA LAPOSTOLLE MERLOT CUVEE ALEXANDRE

The pride of world-renowned French winemaker Michel Rolland, Merlot CUVEE ALEXANDRE is made 100% from Merlot grapes that are grown in one of Casa Lapostolle’s superb non-irrigated single vineyard sites located within the Rapel Valley of central Chile. Low yielding vines, some of which are more then 50 years old, produce very small quantities of grapes, resulting in a beautifully balanced Merlot that has a deep purple-garnet colour, and rich, mature, complex fruit. Aged in small French oak barrels for 14 months, followed by 4 months in bottle, Merlot CUVEE ALEXANDRE may be enjoyed now or cellared for several years.

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CHARDONNAY CUVEE ALEXANDRE

The grapes for this special bottling of Chardonnay come from a single vineyard located within the cool micro-climate of the Casablanca Valley, recognized as one of Chile’s finest growing areas for white grapes. The rich velvety texture, exotic fruit character, and beautiful balance are the result of meticulous winemaking by world-renowned French enologist Michel Rolland. Fermented and aged 100% in new oak barrels from Burgundy, followed by 6 months of ageing in bottle, this special and rare Chardonnay CUVEE ALEXANDRE can be enjoyed now.

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON CUVEE ALEXANDRE

This rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon, from world-renowned French winemaker Michel Rolland, is made from grapes grown in one of Casa Lapostolle’s finest non-irrigated single vineyard located within the Rapel Valley of central Chile. Low yielding vines, some of which are more than 50 years old, produce very small quantities of grapes, resulting in an exceptionally balanced, complex, and smooth Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in small French oak barrels for 12 months, followed by 6 months of ageing in bottle, this special and rare Cabernet Sauvignon CUVEE ALEXANDRE may be enjoyed now or cellared for several years.

 

REVIEWS OF WINE SPECTATOR

(1999)

Best Wines to Buy Now

Red Wines:
  1. CASA LAPOSTOLLE MERLOT CUVEE ALEXANDRE 1997
    Rating 90. Great ripeness and concentration give this powerful Chilean red depth and persistence. It offers explosive cassis and blackberry flavors, with ripe, muscular tannins and plenty of toasty oak grace notes. It has some jagged edges now, but should bloom with time in the bottle, best from 2000 through 2010.

  2. CASA LAPOSTOLLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON CUVEE ALEXANDRE 1997

    Rating 88. This ambitious red shows plenty of concentration, its ripe flavors of blackberry and dried plum overlaid with coffee and toasty oak nuances and supported by muscular tannins. It seems a bit overdone now, oaky and alcoholic on the finish, but should harmonize with time, best from 2001 through 2009.

  3. CASA LAPOSTOLLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1997

    Rating 88. Round and ripe, this lush red from Chile offers satisfying drinking for the price, with mouthfilling blackberry, toast and light herbal flavors, chewy tannins and a clean finish. Makes an impact, but stays supple and polished. Drink now through 2004. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.

White Wines:
  1. CASA LAPOSTOLLE CHARDONNAY 1997
    Compared to the safe international-style typical of Chilean whites, this Chardonnay goes for the gusto. It’s thick-textured, heavy with oak, very ripe and delivers plenty of fruit and alcohol. Seems a bit clumsy now, but it has stuffing and may come around; drink through 2002.

Casa Lapostolle is a Chilean Winery established by the Grand Marnier-Lapostolle family of Grand Marnier Liqueur fame, and with Michel Rolland, the star oenologist of Pomerol as wine-maker-consultant. Casa Lapostolle has gone to win rave reviews from wine magazine and gold medals at the major exhibitions.

"Casa Lapostolle is producing Chile’s finest Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Merlot. Her wines are deliciously affordable." Robert Parker Jr. December 1997

AWARDS:

  1. WINPAC Wine Show - Hong Kong, April 1998
    2.

    i) Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre 1997 Gold Medal

    ii) Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre 1997 Best Value Wine

    iii) Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre 1997 Gold Medal

    iv) Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre 1997 Best Value Wine

  2. 1998 International Wine Challenge, UK
    3.

    i) Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay 1998 Silver Medal

    ii) Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre 1997 Silver Medal

    iii) Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 1997 Gold Medal

  3. Vinexpo (Bordeaux)

i) Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 1997 Gold Medal

ii) Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 1997 Prix d’Excellence

  d. 1997 Vinexpo - Challenge International du Vin, Blaye-Bourge

i) Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre 1995 Gold Medal

ii) Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Alexandre 1995 Gold Medal

iii) Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre 1995 Gold Medal

iv) Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Alexandre 1996 Silver Medal

 e. 1995 Vinexpo - Challenge International du Vin, Blaye-Bourge

i) Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre 1994 Gold Medal

ii) Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 Silver Medal

 f. 1995 International Wine Challenge, (UK)

i) Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay 1994 Silver Medal

 

RATINGS:

Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre 1997 WS 90

Casa Lapostolle Melot Cuvee Alexandre 1996 RP 90

Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre 1995 WS 90 / RP 89+

Casa Lapostolle Merlot Cuvee Alexandre 1994 WS 90 / RP 89

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Alexandre 1997 WE 91 / WS 88

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Alexandre 1996 RP 89

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvee Alexandre 1995 WN 90 / RP 86

Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre 1997 RP 90 / WS 85

Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre 1996 RP 88

Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay Cuvee Alexandre 1995 RP 89

Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 1998 WE 88

Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 1997 RP 88

Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc 1995 RP 88

Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay 1997 WS 86

Casa Lapostolle Chardonnay 1995 RP 87

Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 1997 WS 91 / RP 86

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 WE 91 / WS 88

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 RP 84

Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 WS 87

Casa Lapostolle Merlot 1996 WE 90

Casa Lapostolle Merlot 1995 RP 86

Casa Lapostolle Merlot 1994 WS 87

 

Note:           WE – The Wine Enthusiast     WS – The Wine Spectator

WN – The Wine News              RP – Robert Parker Jr.

 

AWARDS AND PRESS RECOGNITIONS

Classic Line:

CASA LAPOSTOLLE MERLOT

  • "Gold Medal" WINPAC Wine Show - Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Best Value Wine" WINPAC Wine Show - Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Winner of the Category" Wine & Spirit Asia 1996, Bangkok-Thailand.

 

CASA LAPOSTOLLLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

  • "Bronze Medal" WINPAC Wine Show – Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Best Value Wine" WINPAC Wine Show – Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Silver Medal" 1995 Vinexpo – Challenge International du Vin, Blaye-Bourg.
  • "Casa Lapostolle Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 are showing very well" The New York Times, Frank J. Prial, April 10th, 1996.

 

CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC

  • "Silver Medal" Helsinki Wine Fair-Finland, March 1998.
  • "Best Sauvignon Blanc from Chile" El Mercurio Newspaper December 1995, Santiago-Chile.
  • "The best Sauvignon Blanc I have tasted from South America" The Wine Advocate December 1994, Robert Parker Jr.

 

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CHARDONNAY

  • "Silver Medal" 1998 International Wine Challenge, UK.
  • "2nd Best Wine in Competition" Wine & Spirit Asia 1996, Bangkok-Thailand.
  • "Silver Medal" 1995 International Wine Challenge, UK.
  • "Rated 87 Points" The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker Jr.

 

Cuvee Alexandre Line:

 

CASA LAPOSTOLLE MERLOT CUVEE ALEXANDRE

  • "Gold Medal" WINPAC Wine Show – Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Best Value Wine" WINPAC Wine Show – Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Gold Medal" 1997 Vinexpo – Challenge International du Vin, Blaye-Bourg.
  • "Gold Medal" 1995 Vinexpo – Challenge International du Vin, Blaye-Bourg.
  • ‘Selected as one of the Top 100 Wines" The Wine Spectator, December 30th, 1997.
  • "Selected as one of the Top 100 Wines" The Wine Spectator, December 30th, 1996.
  • "2nd Best Chilean Wine" The Wine Spectator, June 15th, 1995.
  • "Rated 89+ Points" The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker Jr.

 

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON CUVEE ALEXANDRE

  • "Gold Medal" 1997 Vinexpo - Challenge International du Vin, Blaye-Bourg.
  • "Rated 90 Points" The Wine News, USA.
  • "4th Best Cabernet Sauvignon from the New World" Brutus Magazine – Japan, February 1998.

 

CASA LAPOSTOLLE CHARDONNAY CUVEE ALEXANDRE

  • "Gold Medal" WINPAC Wine Show – Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Best Value Wine" WINPAC Wine Show – Hong Kong, April 1998.
  • "Silver Medal" 1998 International Wine Challenge, UK.
  • "Gold Medal" 1997 Vinexpo – Challenge International du Vin, Blaye-Bourg.
  • "Rated 89 Points" The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker Jr.
  • "Best Chardonnay from the New World" Brutus Magazine – Japan, February 1998.