Despite the warm and dry character of the year, I find the 2015 Clos Apalta, a blend of 57% Carménère, 26% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, to be less marked by the Carménère and with more integrated oak and better freshness. There is more Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It's spicy and herbal while ripe and powerful, full-bodied and with plenty of dusty tannins. It has a strong personality, and I find more balance here. 73,452 bottles produced. - The Wine Advocate, September 2018, Luis Gutiérrez

The red formerly known as Lapostolle is now the 2015 Le Rouge, a Bordeaux blend from the younger vines in Apalta produced in a lighter and fresher style, despite the warm year. It's a juicy blend of 29% Carmenère, 27% Merlot, 22% Syrah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Petit Verdot. Two-thirds of the wine matured in oak for some 13 months, and the rest was kept unoaked. An improvement over the previous year. 88,716 bottles.

46% Carmenère, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 26 months in 100% new French oak. Strong salinity on the nose here, lots of petrichor. Suppressed fruit. Less tannic heft than the 2014, making it more developed for drinking now, although it certainly has decades of bottle ageing to go. The most European of the vintages so far, it seems to me. (RH)

46% Carmenère, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. Particularly deep crimson. Very heady and ripe on the nose but not aggressively sweet or alcoholic. On the palate it’s a little too sweet for my taste. The acid and tannin creeps in rather aggressively on the finish, as does the alcohol. Unintegrated at the moment with rather a pinched finish. (JR)

There is a subtle complexity on the nose with currant, berry, fresh herb and wet earth aromas. Cut fresh flowers, too. Full body, dense and powerful. Incredible character here with such purity and polish. It goes on for minutes. Formed, sculptured yet soulful. A monumental wine for Chile. Unbelievable. More powerful than the 2014 which was 100 points. A blend of 46% carmenere, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. Made from biodynamically grown grapes. Better in 2022. James Suckling