Product description
Chappellet is often referred to as the “cathedral on the hill”—a family-owned estate that, in 1967, chose the rugged, rocky Pritchard Hill over a comfortable valley and has been building a legend of high-altitude Cabernet wines ever since.The founders, Donn and Molly Chappellet, dreamed of a wine that could stand alongside the top Bordeaux wines; the answer turned out to be the location: the steep, red volcanic slopes overlooking Lake Hennessey, at an elevation of 800–1,800 feet (approx..(240–550 m) n.p.m., where the bushes produce small, intensely flavorful clusters.It was a groundbreaking decision—Chappellet became one of the first “new” producers in Napa after Prohibition and an early member of the Napa Valley Vintners.Today, Pritchard Hill is still not a separate appellation, but it is considered the most famous “non-AVA” in the entire valley.
The Chappellet Vineyard is a mosaic of 48 blocks, mostly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, on Sobrante loam soils and Hambright rock outcrops—traces of an ancient, 14,000-year-old volcano that shaped the local topography and created exceptionally thin, stony soil profiles.The high altitude results in cooler nights and a longer ripening period; the rocky terrain and poor soil naturally limit yields and concentrate the flavor.For more than three decades, legendary winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus has overseen the entire operation; he returned to Chappellet in 1990 and continues to shape the style of the Pritchard Hill reds to this day.
Trivia?The history of the site dates back to the pioneer Charles Pritchard (hence the hill's name), and Philippe Togni helped create Chappellet's first great wines—vintages from the late 1960s.i 70.have cemented the mountain's reputation as a terroir for Cabernet that is both powerful and long-aging.In today's wine world, Pritchard Hill is sometimes called the "Rodeo Drive of Napa"—it is here, alongside Chappellet, that some of the most sought-after mountain Cabernets are concentrated.
Now for the wine itself: The 2019 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon (Signature) is a classic blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced primarily from the winery’s own high-elevation vineyards on Pritchard Hill.The 2019 vintage was blended from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec, and 3% Merlot, and then aged for about.18 months in French oak barrels.The style is one of elegant, mountainous power: dark fruit, tension, and a crystalline tannin structure, with oak that adds a spicy note.
Appearance: Deep, opaque purple with a ruby-red rim; dense legs suggest concentration.
Aroma: Cassis and black cherry dominate the nose, alongside plum and dark chocolate; in the background, notes of cedar, cardamom, clove, and vanilla from French oak, with hints of graphite and dried herbs.
Taste: Full-bodied, rich, yet harmonious; juicy dark fruit intertwined with fine-grained, “mountain” tannins.A mid-palate bolstered by fresh acidity, with a long, clean finish featuring notes of cocoa, cedar, and stony minerality.
Food pairings: Roasted entrecôte or bone-in roast beef, beef cheek braised in red wine, game (deer, wild boar) with juniper-blueberry sauce, polenta with aged pecorino; from the cheese board—aged cheddar, 24-month Comté., and from Polish cuisine: roast goose with apples or beef roulades.(The structure and spicy oak "carry" the richness and umami; dark fruit plays off the caramelization and notes of demi-glace sauces).