2010 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Signature
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Tasting notes
Saturated deep ruby to the rim. Cool, laid-back nose combines blackcurrant, licorice, crushed rock, graphite and bitter chocolate. Thick, sweet and large-scaled on entry, then rich and mouthfilling in the mid-palate, with a strong mineral spine framing its black fruit, licorice and violet flavors. Wonderfully plush and long but evolving at a snail's pace. A huge, almost excessive wine with outstanding concentration and depth of flavor. Tannins are utterly suave but substantial. I described this as full-blown when I first tasted it, but it's every bit as youthful today and an element of medicinal reserve accentuates its powerful underlying structure. I'd still give this wine another few years of cellaring; its terrific mountain energy and tannic spine should support it through at least another two decades of evolution.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Good medium ruby-red. Inviting aromas of cassis, dark chocolate, mocha, licorice, tobacco and loam. Supple on entry, then ripe, suave and concentrated, with harmonious acidity framing the youthful currant, mocha and menthol flavors. A bit less giving today than the nose suggests but nicely sweet and sharply delineated. The firmly tannic, lively finish is a bit youthfully tough and in need of patience, but this cabernet offers outstanding potential.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature is a dark, mysterious beauty endowed with considerable depth and richness. Mocha, chocolate, spices and plums fuse together gracefully as this soft, supple wine takes shape in the glass. I very much like the immediacy of the 2010. Only a little bit of persistence is missing on the finish, but not enough to materially detract from what is a gorgeous bottle of wine. For Napa Valley standards, this is about as good as it gets for the money. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot.
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature is a dark, mysterious beauty endowed with considerable depth and richness. Mocha, chocolate, spices and plums fuse together gracefully as this soft, supple wine takes shape in the glass. I very much like the immediacy of the 2010. Only a little bit of persistence is missing on the finish, but not enough to materially detract from what is a gorgeous bottle of wine. For Napa Valley standards, this is about as good as it gets for the money. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025. Today Pritchard Hill seems to be the place everyone wants to be in Napa Valley. The Chappellets were the first to recognize the value and potential of these pristine mountain sites above St. Helena. In addition to making noteworthy wines, the Chappellets were also very smart to trademark the Pritchard Hill name. Unfortunately, that means no other winery can use the designation ‘Pritchard Hill’ on their labels. If Napa Valley is to become recognized throughout the world as a region loaded with first-class terroirs, Pritchard Hill has to be an official AVA (rather than being lumped into St. Helena as it is today), and Chappellet has to allow their neighbors to use the Pritchard Hill designation, which will only bring this corner of Napa Valley more prestige. As for the wines themselves, well, they are terrific. The Chappellet Cabernets are distinguished by a relatively low presence of Cabernet Sauvignon, while Malbec and Merlot play important roles in the blends. Tel. (707) 286-4268
About the producer
Founded in 1967, Chappellet is a pioneering, family-owned Napa Valley estate on Pritchard Hill, where it helped establish the tradition of high-elevation viticulture. Its mountain-grown wines are renowned for their depth, elegance and longevity, led by Cabernet Sauvignon.