Chappellet 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, Signature, Napa Valley

Here's the 50th Anniversary bottling of Chappellet Signature Cab!

For five decades, the Chappellet family has been crafting world-class wines from fruit cultivated on the steep, rocky slopes of Napa Valley's renowned Pritchard Hill. As one of the first wineries to pioneer high-elevation hillside planting, and one of the few remaining great family-owned Napa Valley wineries, Chappellet Vineyard and Winery has influenced generations of vintners. Throughout its history, Chappellet has also established an enduring legacy as one of California's most acclaimed producers of Cabernet Sauvignon. 

This wine from the excellent 2017 vintage is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec. A classic expression of hillside Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this luxurious wine displays concentrated aromas of ripe black cherry, cassis and dark chocolate, along with oak-inspired notes of espresso, cinnamon, clove and cigar box. On the supple, mouth-filling palate, elegantly refined tannins underscore the rich dark berry and blackcurrant flavors, with hints of nutmeg, anise and cedar adding sophistication to the long, voluptuous finish.

The Wine Advocate scored this 91 points saying "A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature reveals intense notes of warm cassis, preserved plums and Black Forest cake plus hints of garrigue, cedar chest and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is delicately styled with fresh, energetic black fruits and a light chew of tannins, finishing earthy."
 

Wine & Spirits Magazine scored this 94 points saying "This savory Napa Valley cabernet grows on Pritchard Hill, where Donn Chappellet settled in 1967. These volcanic hills east of St. Helena provided Phillip Corallo Titus with the raw material for a refined and lilting 2016. He didn’t overextract the wine, so the tannic detail lasts with umami notes of freshly dug earth, black mushrooms and blueberry skins. The fruit is integrated, with dark blueberry density and brighter purple notes feeling refined, so that the pretty side of cabernet is on view—a rarity among the muscle cabs of Napa Valley."