Freddy R. Troya

9.6

Chappellet – Signature Cabernet Sauvignon – 2022 🇺🇸
Pritchard Hill (Mountain Fruit) – Napa Valley AVA – California, USA

Overview
A cornerstone of Chappellet for over three decades, the Signature Cabernet Sauvignon continues to define what Napa Valley mountain Cabernet is all about: power, elegance, and longevity.
The 2022 vintage carries a subtly adjusted blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, 2% Merlot, featuring a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon and slightly less Petit Verdot and Malbec compared to the 2021 (see my v2021 notes).
This shift gives the 2022 an extra dimension of muscle and purity, heightening its mountain-driven character.

Aromas & Flavors
Undeniably dark and expressive. Notes of blackcurrant, dark cherry, plum, and cassis rise first, followed by cedar, sage, aged tobacco, thyme, and beautifully integrated toasted oak.
As it opens, deeper nuances emerge, espresso bean, cocoa, graphite, and subtle mountain herbs.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and impeccably structured.
The increase in Cabernet Sauvignon amplifies its power and linearity, while polished tannins deliver a glowing richness across the palate.
Flavors of black cherry, currant, chocolate, espresso, and warm spice saturate the mid-palate. The finish is long, confident, and built for aging.

Food Pairings
Prime rib, grilled ribeye, lamb with rosemary, venison, black-truffle dishes, or aged gouda/cheddar.

Verdict
A formidable yet seductively elegant expression of Pritchard Hill. The 2022 is slightly more commanding than the 2021, with enhanced Cabernet purity and structural depth. A true benchmark in Napa’s hillside Cabernets, age-worthy, expressive, and unmistakably Chappellet. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Pritchard Hill’s volcanic, iron-rich soils and elevation create Cabernets known for density, refinement, and remarkable longevity, which is why so many iconic Napa producers source or plant here.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
Among my personal favorites in the mountain Cabernet category. The 2022 delivers that unmistakable “whoa” moment, especially when shared with friends and family. — 6 days ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Lucid and supple. Rounded fruit. Contained. Not too hot with lovely purity. Great stuff. A little tight. Some dried herbs. Delicious. — 6 months ago

with Rick

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

Palate is so juicy and like icing on a cake. Gorgeous purity and depth and so clean. Wow. Nose of mineral and beeswax, butter and some grilled nuts. Wonderful rich texture and just the right amount of chewy. Dense and packed but so sleek and refined. The purity is stunning. Aromas of wet earth now and sweet oak. What energy and brilliance on the palate. — 7 months ago

Steven Heydemann

9.4

Showing so beautifully right now. Density and purity of dark berry fruit, olive wood smoke, sage and thyme notes. Terrific.  — a month ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Nose is a spice bomb. Dried, desiccated leaves. Some mid season cherry, wet earth and everything about the nose says aged but with some youthful vigor. Palate is lush and rich, really good, with great concentration and freshness. Nimble and with wonderful acidity and such purity. Velvety sweet tannins and so focused. This is drinking so well. Terrific sweetness and love the classical structure. Long finish and still got some fuel to burn. Even better in 5-8 years. With air this gets so juicy and the energy really shines through. Wow the elegance shines through after 2 hours. 9.5 now. — 3 months ago

Conrad Green

9.3

From mag. soft raspberry fruit. Slightly tart. Very good purity. A little light compared to the wines alongside — 6 months ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Conrad Green

9.6

Meaty and intense. Lush with violets, a deep purity and smoothly intense. Really great stuff. A little more powerful than the 82 alongside but a whisper less refined — 7 months ago

with Walker and David

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

No wine for 5 days while recovering from a canker sore. Coming back strong. No formal notes but mineral and so focused. Great Rheinhessen weight and density. Nimble though. Super long finish. Unreal purity. — 2 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

10

Just one of the best wines in the world. Nose is legend. The best soppy, soaked, dense, clear mid to late season red and black cherries of all time. Then comes the spice. And more spice. And more. This nose is perfect. It’s a life affirming perfume. On days that are this bad, a wine like this makes one momentarily forget the horrors going on outside our windows. The nose is a 10. It’s that simple. The palate is young but amazing. Grapey, concentrated red cherry fruit and such freshness, nimbleness and insane purity. Unreal inner mouth aromas. The decadence of 2022 is here but it’s also dialed back because this is Brisset. Good grip and acid and such sweetness. This is hedonistic but also cerebral in that the acids wash one’s palate on the finish and the finish is mostly mineral and limestone. So juicy and dense but also lithe. This is perfection. 10.0. It’s closed down now after a few hours. But the finish is just insanely long. . — 5 months ago

Norman

9.0

This is powerful sake. Thick on the palate with a lot of flavor. I get a bit more alcohol and even some heat than I prefer in sake. There is a long finish on this one. Bottled 12/22 — 7 months ago