Lapostolle Blind Tasting With Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon

NEW YORK, March 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Lapostolle, the Marnier Lapostolle family-owned premium winery in Chile, hosted a blind tasting with their Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and 2009 vintages.  Held at the Astor Center in New York City on March 1st, the tasting pit Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine consistently rated at 90 points and above, against other top Cabernet contenders, both at price parity and far exceeding the cost of the Lapostolle marque.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120302/LA63565)

The tasting opened with a presentation by Milton Pedraza, CEO of the Luxury Institute, who discussed how luxury is perceived today.  In the uncertainty of the current economy, the concept of luxury is being redefined to mean quality, excellence, consistency and a demonstrable superiority when measured against others in its class.  Savvy consumers no longer define fine wines by their cost, but rather by quality, taste and refinement.  Experts predict that wine buyers will be ever more likely to trade up from popular price points under $20 for better quality and taste, and the $25 tier is projected to rise in sales. 

The blind tasting was conducted by Master of Wine Sheri Sauter Morano, with media attendees given the opportunity to taste and rank the wines.  At the conclusion, Sheri revealed the average of all the rankings, listed below beginning with the most favorably ranked wine and ending with the least favorably ranked wine:

• 3.9 - Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Colchagua Valley USD $25
• 4.0 - Jordan, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Alexander Valley USD $45
• 4.3 - Joseph Phelps, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Napa Valley USD $60
• 4.3 - Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon  2007, Alexander Valley USD $73
• 4.5 - Caymus Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Napa Valley USD $75
• 4.5 - Beringer, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Knights Valley, USD $25
• 4.9 - Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Colchagua Valley USD $25
• 5.6 - The Montelena Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 USD $135

"Blind tasting is always a wonderful equalizer.  This tasting was a great opportunity to challenge assumptions and make new discoveries. I think that the Lapostolle Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon is a fantastic example of the kind of excellent, top-quality wines being made in Chile today that deliver not only on taste, but on value for the consumer as this tasting clearly demonstrated," says Sheri Sauter Morano MW.

"We were excited with results from this blind tasting and to demonstrate that, with a suggested retail price of $25, our wines truly play on the world stage; and equal in quality to brands costing far more than our Cuvee tier," says Pamela Broyles, North American Marketing Manager. 

Milton Pedraza says, "Lapostolle is a wonderful example of delivering true discernible value to post-recession consumers who demand legitimacy from luxury products.  The results of this tasting coupled with the authenticity and strong family history behind the Lapostolle label truly demonstrates that the Cuvee Alexandre tier is worthy of consideration as luxury consumption evolves."  

Cuvee Alexandre Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 and 2009 are available nationwide (SRP $24.99 / 750ml).

ABOUT LAPOSTOLLE
Lapostolle is one of the most dynamic and influential premium wine producers in Chile.  Founded in 1994, this family-owned winery was created by Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband, Cyril de Bournet, members of the Marnier-Lapostolle legacy renowned for the production of Grand Marnier, KAPPA Pisco and French wines from their Loire estate Chateau de Sancerre.

The world-class quality delivered in every bottle of Lapostolle is a result of the superb Chilean terroir paired alongside rigorous French vineyard expertise practiced at the three Lapostolle vineyard sites in Casablanca, Cachapoal and Colchagua.  To no surprise, the four unique labels produced – Casa, Cuvee Alexandre, Borobo and Clos Apalta – are consistently highly rated in the most influential wine trade publications. 

The top-notch experience goes beyond a glass of Lapostolle wine being poured.  In 2011 the luxurious Lapostolle Residence, consisting of 4 private casitas (villas), was named the first Relais & Chateaux property in Chile – a demarcation signifying the creme de la creme of the hospitality industry.  With deluxe accommodations offering exceptional vineyard and mountain views of Chile, a creative and well-mastered culinary program and beautifully crafted wines, Lapostolle Residence is the first Relais & Chateaux property in Chile.  For more information please visit www.lapostolle.com

SOURCE Lapostolle