Andrea Watt

9.3

BlackBerry, cassis, oak, and violet. — 20 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cherry, blackberry, and a touch of vanilla. A Pinot for people who like Cabernet! — 20 days ago

Tom Garland

9.3

hour decant(decent sediment).  A still dark garnet with bricking.   On the nose:  subtle notes of dark fruit, licorice, tobacco, forest floor, herbaceous, olive brine, mocha java.  Taste:  silky, layered, creamy wine with blackberry/dark plum, tobacco, baking spice, mocha java, earth, minerals, dried herbs and a long dry finish.  YUM!! — a month ago

Aaron Krauss

9.3

Everyone at an aba dinner loved it. — 3 months ago

Charlie Frago

9.0

Overall nice red blend. Well balanced, moderate fruit. Enjoyed — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Chappellet – Malbec – 2022
Napa Valley (Pritchard Hill), California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A bold and unapologetically powerful 100% Malbec from Chappellet’s iconic Pritchard Hill estate, a site known for producing some of Napa’s most intense, structured, and deeply concentrated reds. Crafted by Phillip Corallo-Titus, this is no soft, plush Malbec: it’s a mountain-grown, high-tension version that delivers immediate impact and remarkable depth.

Aromas & Flavors
Black plum, blackberry compote, blueberry skin, cocoa, graphite, and dark spice. Subtle violet notes and a savory, mineral backbone that reflects the rocky hillside terroir.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and bone-dry, with gripping tannins and commanding structure. This is Malbec with power, layered, muscular, and unapologetically firm. The finish is long, dark, and seriously satisfying.

Food Pairings
Ribeye, lamb chops, smoked brisket, grilled sausages, peppered steak, or aged Manchego. Anything charred or protein-rich sings with this wine.

Verdict
A fierce, mountain-born expression of Malbec that redefines what Napa can do with the grape. Intense, structured, and explosively flavorful, this bottling is as rare stylistically as it is visually. A standout in the Chappellet lineup and a thrill for Malbec lovers seeking something more serious.

Did You Know?
The dragon on the label is “TeaCup,” the 14th character in Carissa Chappellet’s collectible dragon series. Each dragon is unique, playful, and designed to make these bottlings artistic keepsakes within the Chappellet portfolio.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
One of the boldest, most powerful Malbecs I’ve ever tasted from Napa, and naturally, that Pritchard Hill signature intensity shows through in every sip. Absolutely stunning. — 7 months ago

Conrad Green

9.5

This is in amazing shape for 52 year old wine. Deep fresh fruit. Plums and gnarly herbal bores with a bloodiness and great body. Remarkable stuff and evolving still in the glass. Excellent — a month ago

with Gregg and Rick

Andrea Watt

9.1

Pear and lemon but light and fresh with mineral. Crisp and bright. — 20 days 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! — a month 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. — 5 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Blueberry, sage, and cedar. Very deep and flavorful with fruit. — 9 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.0

Black tea and cherry with a touch of smoke. — 9 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Bright citrus and green apple with a kiss of oak. Crisp and bright but layered and fruity. — 20 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Cedar, oak, leather, and anise with a little pepper. Dark and earthy. — 20 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Oak and leather with plum. Rich and bold. — 20 days 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. — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Delicious with lemon wet stone, kiwi, and a touch of jasmine. Crisp, acidic, but still juicy. — 4 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.3

Black cherry, mushroom, and vanilla with a touch of oak. Rich but not overpowering. It’s smooth enough to drink alone but has enough acidity to stand up to food. — 5 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.6

Dark and rich with blueberry, cocoa, oak, and leather. — 9 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.5

Dark and rich with earthy notes and cedar over a touch of plum and blackberry, over tobacco and vanilla. — 9 months ago