Apothic – Wines with history
As a Classicist and wine aficionado, this brand appeals for two reasons. Firstly, the Classicist in me likes the name for its Greek origin (Everywhere I saw seems to think it's Latin, which isn't wrong, but go back further). "Apothece", meaning warehouse, harks to the origin and rustic nature of winemaking. Picture barrels upon barrels in large, dark storehouses where early winemakers began tinkering with blends and maturation. It’s also linked to apothecaries, again evoking this image of tweaking recipes in clandestine rooms. This image of blending and tweaking is very much the tradition that inspires Apothic’s ethos.
Secondly, the wine aficionado in me likes them not because they are necessarily complex or outstanding in their field, but because what they do, they do right and make a very easy drinking range of wines that can appeal to almost every wine drinker - They are well known for their silky-smooth signature palate.
The Californian Wine Buzz
Apothic is in part responsible for the popularity of big Cali reds, being a leader in the field of these intensely flavoured, heavy wines yet with a silky mouthfeel. The Flagship wine, the Apothic Red, is a carefully crafted blend that goes back to traditional winemaking of the medieval period, yet with the charm of the New World’s innovations. Nowhere showcases ripe grapes quite like California. They burst with flavour and tropical fruits which are carefully captured in a bottle of Apothic. Indeed, they have proved the deliciousness of this formula by winning gold in the 2020 Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards.
Apothic Wines – How do they Taste?
Apothic Red
You should all recognise that distinctive red ‘A’ wrapped in Medieval alchemic patterns on the shelves of most wine stores. It gives it an alluring glow and draws you into the mysterious alchemy behind it.
It is a blend led predominantly by Zinfandel, followed by Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The result? A dark, velvety wine brought into balance by each component. You’ll find blackberry, blueberry, plum and cherry holding the fruits together. Oak influence is shown off with a generous dash of vanilla and a toasty coffee flavour. Finally, it is capped off with a gentle sweetness on the finish. Immensely drinkable.
Apothic Cab
Taking this international superstar and putting its own spin on it, Apothic have created a classic heavy style but added a little Zinfandel to help smooth out the finish and add jammy fruit to the mix. I’ve even heard there might be a little Pinot Noir in there too to bring some fresher, lighter nuance. Dark fruits lead the charge with a little herbal eucalyptus as Cab often displays. A caramel sweetness and the jammy fruits help round it off very pleasantly.
Apothic Merlot
Merlot is many people’s favourite because of its plummy nature and generally easy drinking style. It is also loved for its exceptional contribution to the right bank wines of Bordeaux. It’s no wonder it suited the Apothic name then. The twist here is the addition of a little bit of the Italian variety Teroldego which adds cherry and enriches the soft tannin feel. Plum, cherry and blackberry display in ample measures whilst oak delivers vanilla and coconut.
Updated 10th April 2024