Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Chappellet — Merlot 2021
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A limited-production, mountain-grown Merlot from Chappellet that captures the power and concentration associated with its Napa Valley vineyards while retaining the variety’s natural suppleness. The 2021 spent 22 months in French oak, 40% new, providing a polished framework for its generous fruit and substantial structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Remarkably expressive from the moment it was opened, with concentrated black cherry, ripe plum, cassis, and dark red fruits accompanied by cocoa, tobacco leaf, clove, anise, and subtle oak spice. The aromatic intensity is immediate, deep, and compelling without pushing the fruit into jamminess.

Mouthfeel
Initially robust and firmly structured, with substantial body and wonderfully chewy tannins. After approximately 45 minutes of decanting, the wine noticeably relaxed: the tannins became more integrated, the mouthfeel mellower, and the finish progressively smoother and more refined while retaining its impressive concentration.

Food Pairings
Duck breast, roasted lamb, wild mushrooms, braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, or aged cheeses. Its combination of concentration and evolving texture makes this particularly rewarding alongside richer cuisine.

Verdict
A serious and beautifully crafted expression of Napa Valley Merlot. What makes it especially compelling is its evolution with air, starting powerful, deeply aromatic, and structured before gradually revealing a softer, more polished personality. Decanting this one is definitely worth the wait.

Did You Know?
Chappellet was founded in 1967 on Pritchard Hill, where its mountain vineyards rise high above the Napa Valley floor. Cabernet Sauvignon may command most of the attention, but Merlot and the other Bordeaux varieties grown there benefit from the same mountain environment that has defined Chappellet’s identity for decades.

🍷 Personal Pick
A Merlot from Chappellet is already intriguing; this 2021 was sublime. Right after opening, it exploded with intense dark fruit and aromatics, robust body, and wonderfully chewy tannins. After about 45 minutes in the decanter, everything began to settle and integrate, the mouthfeel became noticeably mellower and the finish progressively smoother and more refined. Watching that transformation was as compelling as the wine itself. — 9 hours ago

Andrea Watt

9.3

Dark and earthy with tobacco and coffee over cassis. Rich and deep. — a month ago

Andrea Watt

9.1

Dark and rich with leather and cedar over bramble fruit. Big and improves with some time to breath. Holds up well to a nice roast beef. — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cherry, blackberry, and a touch of vanilla. A Pinot for people who like Cabernet! — 4 months ago

Edward

9.0

2010 vintage poured in 2026. Still tasting some slight primary flavor. Leather aroma. Tannins have softened. Deep red color. Still holding its own. — 5 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Delicious with lemon wet stone, kiwi, and a touch of jasmine. Crisp, acidic, but still juicy. — 7 months ago

David S. Lopez

9.0

This wine pours a beautiful purple-red. It has a nice nose and beautiful silky texture. Nice flavors of cherries, boysenberries, and cocoa. This was a birthday gift from good friends Agnes and Rich. I’m not sure that I would spend $90 for it. Nevertheless it went perfectly with the prime ribeye steaks we paired it with. — 20 days ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.3

At 12 years old, this Malbec really shines. Smooth and elegant. Mellow tannins and nicely integrated layers of red and black fruit. — 22 days ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

Beautiful cab. Smooth and elegant. — 22 days ago

Todd Scurci

9.4

#cabfranc #fourpack — a month ago

with Annie and Jason

Andrea Watt

9.4

Oak, blackberry, walnut, and leather. — 3 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.1

Pear and lemon but light and fresh with mineral. Crisp and bright. — 4 months ago

Aaron Krauss

9.3

Everyone at an aba dinner loved it. — 6 months ago

Charlie Frago

9.0

Overall nice red blend. Well balanced, moderate fruit. Enjoyed — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

From magnum. Partially poured into a decanter and enjoyed over the course of a couple days. Best on Day 2. The 2015 Pritchard Hill pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and richly fruited with powerful, heady notes of cassis, blackberries, plum, purple flowers, tobacco, cocoa, some star anise and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is luxurious. Classic Pritchard Hill character and surely a candidate for top vineyard status if the US were to ever adopt a classification status. There’s a long future here, especially in this larger format. Drink now with patience through 2055. — a month ago

Andrea Watt

9.6

Oak, blackberry, and cassis and with a touch of forest floor. But very smooth. — a month ago

heidi schlegel

9.3

Chappellett Vineyard Zinfandel 2023.
Fruity as expected, but not overly so. — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Bright citrus and green apple with a kiss of oak. Crisp and bright but layered and fruity. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Chappellet — Grower Collection “Five Blocks” Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2020
Petaluma Gap AVA, Sonoma County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview:
A very limited-production Chardonnay sourced from the Calesa Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA. Built from cool-climate tension and precision, this 2020 vintage elevates the profile of the wine with greater depth, layered complexity, and remarkable balance while preserving the vibrant tropical-citrus core characteristic of the site.

Aromas & Flavors:
Intense yet refined aromas of lemon curd, tropical citrus, baked guava, white peach, and subtle lychee, intertwined with delicate white spices and hints of mandarin zest. The palate unfolds in layers with vibrant citrus energy, savory mineral nuances, and beautifully integrated oak.

Mouthfeel:
Exceptionally balanced and textured. Fresh acidity drives the wine from start to finish, while a striking tension on the back palate gives the wine precision and lift. Creamy without heaviness, polished without excess, finishing long, energetic, and remarkably composed.

Food Pairings:
Butter-poached lobster, scallops, roast chicken with herbs, creamy seafood pasta, miso-glazed cod, or aged Comté.

Verdict:
A serious and highly expressive Chardonnay that showcases how powerful and refined California Chardonnay can become in the right cool-climate hands. The 2020 clearly steps above the 2022 in complexity, texture, and overall precision while still maintaining the vibrant tropical freshness that defines the vineyard.

🍷 Did You Know?
The Petaluma Gap’s cold Pacific winds naturally slow ripening and thicken grape skins, helping Chardonnays develop both concentrated flavor intensity and the kind of acidity-driven tension more commonly associated with top cool-climate regions. Cheers! — 5 months ago

Ericsson

9.5

Yes. This is getting close to its peak. Great wine to lots going on. Graphite. Violets. Black fruit. Leather. Cassis. Fine and elegant on the plate. — 9 months ago