Chappellet - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Pritchard Hill Vineyard 2014

Price: $229.99
Producer | Chappellet |
Country | United States |
Region | California |
Subregion | Napa Valley |
Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
Vintage | 2014 |
Sku | 07753 |
Size | 750ml |
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Chappellet Description
THE WINE
The most sought-after wine in our portfolio, this limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon represents the pinnacle of Chappellet winemaking and embodies the elegant power and complexity of Pritchard Hill winegrowing. Like the great Bordeaux wines that first inspired Donn Chappellet, this wine is crafted by blending Cabernet Sauvignon with other classic Bordeaux varietals. The wine was aged for 22 months in 100 percent new French oak. Grown on our rocky, mountainside vineyards, our Cabernets have consistently displayed an ability to age for several decades.
GROWING SEASON AND HARVEST
For the third year in a row, Mother Nature provided exceptional growing conditions. In fact, our vineyard manager, Dave Pirio, believes that 2012, 2013 and 2014 may be the finest run of growing seasons he has seen in his more than 30 years of farming Pritchard Hill. While 2014 offered lovely temperate, mid-season weather that was ideal for our early ripening varieties, it also brought ample warmth in September and October, ensuring perfect ripeness in our late-ripening grapes. With no threat of rain or significant heat events, the fruit was harvested at an unhurried pace in pristine condition. Overall, our yields were down slightly, resulting in beautiful depth and concentration.
TASTING NOTES
This is a classic expression of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon that combines exceptional structure and richness with elegant purity and poise. The aromas are decadent and concentrated, displaying layers of crème de cassis, blackberry and boysenberry, as well as notes of chocolate, espresso, cigar box and sweet oak. The ripe dark berry elements are echoed on the voluptuous palate, where they are underscored by mouth-coating tannins and hints of vanilla, toasted oak, clove, nutmeg and anise, all of which carry through to a lingering finish that is both smooth and spicy.
James Suckling: 98 Points
This shows great structure and muscle with a firm and flexing tone. Full-bodied, tight and reserved. Currants, black truffles and espresso. A classic structure that harks back to the great Chappellets of the 1970s. Savory. What length. Will improve with many years, but it's still a dream to drink now.