Chappellet Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 95pts

95 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature shows the density and structure of the vintage, with medium to full body, good mid-palate depth, plenty of mountain tannins, and classic Pritchard Hill blue fruits, dark chocolate, and ample minerality. This is a serious wine in the making, and I suspect short-term cellaring will be warranted.

Wine Notes
Luxuriously dark and concentrated, this wine displays aromas of cassis, black cherry and boysenberry, as well as notes of fresh herbs and French oak inspired hints of vanilla, cardamom and clove. On the palate it is beautifully full-bodied with supple, polished tannins and alluring layers of dark berries and spice, with notions of dark chocolate, espresso, sage and anise emerging on the long, dramatic finish.

In 1967, Donn Chappellet dreamed of making a wine to rival the great First Growths of Bordeaux. Pritchard Hill was the answer to that dream. Considered a pioneer in the Napa Valley, Chappellet established the second new winery there after the repeal of Prohibition and became the 18th registered member of the Napa Valley Vintners.

The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon has been our foundational wine for more than three decades. It is a benchmark for the long-lived hillside wines of the Napa Valley; full of structure and aging potential, yet seductively forward in its concentrated varietal character. The dry, rocky soils of Pritchard Hill produce small, intensely flavorful grapes. Crop thinning allows for full, even ripening and elevates flavor complexity.