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! — 5 days ago

Patrick Loomis

9.4

Grippy tight and tannic at opening but softened into juicy plum and cranberry with graphite and soft tannins. Lovely. Drink now if you have any of the 96 left. — 7 months ago

Doug Powers

9.0

[70% Shiraz, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon] Medium-dark ruby, faint bricking at edge, I mostly get the Cabernet, shows both its age and some heat (14.5% ABV), solid balance, medium-long finish, good Barossa Shiraz-Cab blend! — 9 months ago

with Jim

Paul T HB

9.4

Haven’t had this in at least 15 years, why 🤷🏼‍♂️. But they were clearing out several vintages at $30.00, I should have bought a full case. Opened last night to try a glass, decanting the rest today.
Waiting for my 05’s to arrive — a month ago

Doug Powers

9.1

Some orange/brickish color on the edge, shows dark fruit aromas and flavors, plenty of balancing acidity, just the slightest bit of astringent tannin in the finish, mature but at peak, lovely aged Oregon Pinot Noir, kudos to Mark Vlossak!! — 5 months ago

with Jim

Eric Grasser

9.3

Really explosive black flavors of cassis, berry and graphite. Maybe a tad fruit forward and less tannin than I expected and desire. Complimented with mountain rocks, leather and pine needle. But showing great at 9 years. — 7 months ago

Noah Chasin

9.3

Really special bottle nearly sabotaged by the waiter’s feeble attempts at coping with the cork. Stellar and refined, still not really at its peak after three hrs but sublime. Would love to drink a bottle over a couple of days. Winemaker evidently says that the bottles take a minimum of 30 yrs to come to maturity. First bottling was 1982! — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1979 vintage. Tasted after being open for 30 minutes. Not decanted. Medium body still. Smoke and caramel flavors at the forefront with expected baselines/basslines of dark plum and dark cherry. Baking chocolate mostly hiding in the wings but not demonstrative currently. Unified and drinking beautifully now. Smooth. complex finish. Has at least another 4-5 years at this level. Picked up a case for the resto for a song. 07.15.25. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

After reading the story of this producer, I inspired to try it. Especially, at $59.99 for a quality Napa Cabernet. These two brother’s are true pioneers of the Napa Valley. They do their own thing. Don’t follow trends and are not aggressive with their bottle price, nor do they really wish to. More rare than common in today’s Napa Cabernet market. I have a lot of respect for that and Napa Pioneers.

This also drinks pretty well for a young Napa Cabernet. I was expecting bigger/bolder based on write up. Not that this won’t benefit from cellaring.

The fruits are nicely ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries, cherries & blueberry hues. I was expecting more teeth. Think it is showing the finesse & balance of most 21’s I’ve had. Dark spice, grilled meats, light black pepper, barrel dust, dry tobacco, leather, savory herbaceousnes, moist clays, dry crushed rocks, cola, flower bouquet of red, blue & purple fresh flowers, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, softly structured, elegant finish that lasts just over a minute and lands crushed rocks and touch of spice.

It will be interesting to see if this shows more in 5 years.

Photos of; Smith Madrone vineyards and brothers Stuart and Charles Smith — 5 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.6

Pale to mid yellow in colour. The wine was a little cold to begin with. Aromas of talc and lime marmalade, dried flowers - a faint paraffin note - No Kerosene or petrol (TDN). A beautiful aged Riesling from the Clare Valley from Petaluma - a long time favourite producer of Riesling. With air and warming up, some yellow peach notes developing. I see HH said this benefits from decanting which I didn’t do. Drinking at its peak. Sadly my last 2012. — 2 years ago