Freddy R. Troya

9.7

Chappellet – Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.
Napa Valley AVA · Pritchard Hill · California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
The crown jewel of Chappellet’s portfolio and one of Napa Valley’s true mountain icons. Made in extremely limited quantities, this wine represents the pinnacle of the estate’s Bordeaux-inspired philosophy, an expression of power, elegance, and the profound identity of Pritchard Hill.
A masterful blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, crafted with meticulous precision to honor Donn Chappellet’s original vision.

Aromas & Flavors
A captivating aromatic spectrum: liqueur-like blackcurrant, cassis, and ripe blackberry, followed by violet, cedar, and sweet oak. Layers of black tea, roasted coffee, graphite, cinnamon, and vanilla bean slowly emerge as it opens in the glass, revealing depth with each minute.

Mouthfeel
Monumental yet refined. Silky but tightly structured tannins frame a core of ultra-concentrated mountain fruit. The palate expands with flavors of black cherry, currant, cocoa powder, espresso, and subtle mineral tension. Long, resonant, and commanding.

Food Pairings
Best reserved for special meals, think: Dry-aged ribeye, Herb-crusted lamb rack, Wagyu with peppercorn sauce, Truffle risotto and/or Aged Gouda or Parmigiano Reggiano

Verdict
A breathtaking Cabernet Sauvignon at the highest echelon of Napa Valley winemaking. Dimension, finesse, and mountain precision all converge here. Every sip affirms its place among California’s elite. Worth every penny, and deserving of a distinguished spot in any serious cellar.

Did You Know?
Pritchard Hill is often called “The Rodeo Drive of Napa Cabernet” due to its ultra-prestigious hillside estates and intensely low-yielding vineyards. Chappellet was the very first to plant here, which is why they’re referred to as “The Pioneers of Pritchard Hill.”

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A wine I proudly cellar myself. Massive yet graceful, a true mountain Cabernet that stops you in your tracks. This is the Chappellet bottle that leaves even seasoned tasters saying “whoa.” Cheers! — 7 months ago

Christina Ann

8.9

October 2022 Echelon Wine Bar club pick — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Whereas some 2010 White Burgundy (originally hailed as a top vintage) outside of the super upper echelon is overly advancing and dying to be drunk, 2010 PYCM Genevrieres has many years ahead. It needed a great deal of air before it could strut its stuff, but when it got there, that’s just what it did. A sufficient decant unleashes its core with killer yellow fruit intensity, white flowers, smoky minerals, hazelnuts and toasty oak. The palate becomes equally as intense with superb weight, a stunningly luxurious texture and a persistent and powerful finish. PYCM at its finest, but with an exceptional and lengthy future for 2010 Genevrieres. — 4 years ago

Paul J

9.6

Half bottle. 30+ minute decant. Definitely a top echelon nose - perfume, flowers (violets?), dirt, dark cherry fruit etc. Well balanced wine on the palate with dark fruit and a perfect combination of richness and finesse. Medium plus finish. Aging potential but don’t give too much air. Paired great with Chinese food. All the reason I’ve been buying this wine for the better part of a decade!! — 6 years ago

with Brooke

Paul J

9.2

1 hour decant. Dark purple color. Has that classic French nose I love! Decent fruit that fades and thins out over time. Smells great but has that tart/bitter finish that tells you it isn’t in the upper echelon of wines. Decent QPR. Could be great in 5+yrs as it does show potential. — 6 years ago

with Brooke

Greg Gosselin

9.4

Drinking really well, with yet more potential. Top echelon. Superb. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Herbal aromas (typically Margaret River) with Geranium Capsicum and a touch of menthol. Some green notes - medium weight. Savoury wins out over Cassis and black fruits. Not in the upper echelon of Margaret River Cabernet. Just a silver medal. We went to the Cellar Door some years ago and the story goes that the Reserve Cab was served at the wedding of Prince Frederick of Denmark to Sydney Real Estate agent Mary Donaldson originally from Tasmania now Crown Princess Mary and one day will become the Queen of Denmark. Fred is a keen sailor who was representing Denmark at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and they met at Sydney hotspot The Slip Inn where Fred was flashing his Black AMEX so the story goes and was captivated by Mary and the rest is history. — 7 years ago

Thomas Asa Rollins

10

Bay Bridge has really entered the upper echelon of the California Valley vineyards with this one. The light notes combined with bold taste sends you on a journey back to the Chino Hills. There’s nothing I can say that trying this 2024 vintage can’t do 10 times better. Highly recommend!! — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

See previous Delectable notes from 2021 and 2022. Always a class act from Tom Carson and in the top echelon of Pinots from Mornington Peninsula. A beautiful red fruited perfume with stewed fruits. A percentage of whole bunch in the ferment. Richness on the palate with depth. A well made wine from a good vintage. Lucky I have one left. Had the last one on 6/12/24. Not showing as well as previous tastings but still pretty good. Rich red fruits. I notice this won the Stodart Trophy at the Royal Queensland Wine Show for best Young Red of Show. — 2 years ago

Christina Ann

9.2

September 2022 Echelon Wine Bar club pick — 4 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

Comte Liger Belair Vosne Romanée 2017 is such a gorgeous wine. Signature CLB aromatics and expression that always drinks so well young. Of course, it doesn’t have the length of the upper echelon wines in the range, but you may not even notice if  it wasn’t standing alongside the big guns. Outstanding village. — 5 years ago

Paul J

9.7

Our last bottle in London before we move back! Thank you to my team for the awesome gift!

1hr+ decant. Red color with brownish orange edges. Nose contains cedar, graphite, and green elements. Complex wine that has a nice balance of tannins and depth. Very lively and probably at the perfect drinking age. Long finish. Definitely a top echelon wine! — 5 years ago

with Brooke

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.1

Cherry cola meets dusty tea nose. Like the new cherry cola tea Icee flavor you would have as a kid on a weekend shopping spree. Smooth and subdued, a refined yet fun and sexy fruit-forward leathered cola romp on a saddle. The upper echelon of the region. Giddy-up! Enjoyed with white saucy scallops and mushrooms over par-cooked onions and penne. — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Complex, earthy cigar box tannins right from the start transitioning in a vibrant dark fruit on the mid palet and a nice grippy finish. At its peak after about 30-60 minutes, flatting out after two hours. If it had more staying power I would have rated it in the upper echelon. — 6 years ago

with Tammy

Johnno Harris

9.7

Very similar comments to the 2018. This is in the top echelon of Aussie Chardonnay. Just beautiful! 😍👌🏽👌🏽 — 2 years ago

Vino Joe

9.4

Refined but supple. I think this is great Pinot and I put it in a higher echelon. A more complicated mix of red fruits with structure. It has age especially in the length despite being 3 years. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Drinking beautifully right now. Color does not show its 8 years of age. Initially, the nose is all about earth and beef jerky, but after an hour or so beautiful fruit (deep ripe blackberry and blackcurrant) takes over, with earthy minerals receding to the background. Also a sweet honey wheat bread note. Texture on the palate is gorgeous. Super-fine-grained tannins are resolved. There is an unusual sweet iron-like note in the initial part of the palate, with some fruit and ending on a sandstoney minerally theme. Upper echelon Crozes. — 3 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Upper echelon Zin. Alc. kept reasonable at 14.5%. Nose has pure, perfectly ripe spicy blackberry, gravel, a whisp of high-toned smoke. Good ripeness in the mouth but balanced beautifully with surprising acids, which keep it buoyant. Tannins there but super-soft and just hanging out in the background. Reminiscent of the Zins of yore. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Our friends also brought Tri-tip to cook on the Green Egg. Not just any Tri-tip. This is the Cardiff. On the packaging, it refers to a website called CardiffCrack.com and can be ordered from https://order.seasidemarket.com/ @Paul T- Huntington Beach you are going to want to try this without question or hesitation and have some older Shiraz with it.

This is the most tender & flavorful Tri-tip I’ve had...all of us. For me, most are too seasoned/salty and not all that tender. You could almost cut it with a fork. I’ll be making this again & again. This is Goldilocks third porridge...just right.

I find Two Hands to be in the conversation of upper echelon Barossa producers.

I thought this would be a good classic pairing for Tri-tip. This slid into the perfect pairing for the style of the Cardiff. They hugged each other nicely. Really good.

For me as it is with may other big red wine regions, this wine needs 10 years plus to start showing how incredible they can be and has another 7 plus years of good drinking ahead of it.

This was smooth, elegant with round supple tannins. Broad spectrum of ripe, black, purple & blue fruits. It’s core dark with sweet tarriness, expresso roast, pepper, fresh tobacco, dark spices & limestone minerals. Dark; red, purple, blue florals framed in a field of violets & lavender. The acidity is excellent and the wine wire to wire is supple, has great balance, elegance with long staying power & persistence.

Photos of our 2017 visit toTwo Hands. Tasting room approach, fountain on the back grounds and view from their tasting patio. — 6 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

This is upper echelon Chablis. Brothy, sea shell, apple, musky. Great intensity but fantastic acids. Long ass finish. — 6 years ago

with Rebecca and Angelo