CHAPPELLET | Signature | Cabernet Sauvignon | 2019
cabernet sauvignon | petit verdot | malbec | merlot

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Nestled high on Pritchard Hill, overlooking Napa Valley, Chappellet Vineyard was founded in 1967 by Donn and Molly Chappellet. Their vision was rooted in the belief that the rugged, rocky slopes of the mountainside could yield Cabernet Sauvignon of unparalleled structure, concentration, and longevity – a stark contrast to the softer styles often found on the valley floor. This pioneering spirit established Chappellet as a benchmark for mountain-grown wines. Today, the second generation – Cyril, Carissa, and Dominic Chappellet – continues this legacy, passionately committed to sustainable farming practices, an unwavering focus on quality, preserving the natural beauty of Pritchard Hill, ensuring the winery remains family-owned.
The wine that we are going to review today hardly requires any introduction, as this is one of the most famous wine labels from California‘s famous Napa Valley – Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 by Chappellet Vineyard. Although the label only mentions the cabernet sauvignon grape variety, technically this wine is a harmonious blend of four grape varieties: cabernet sauvignon (77%), petit verdot (12%), malbec (8%) and merlot (3%), where cabernet sauvignon forms the wine’s main body and structure, petit verdot enhances the wine’s aromatic profile with delicate dusty and floral notes, malbec adds plushness and is all about up-front richness, boiling a more refined mid-palate, while merlot provides balance and offers a leaner and a more dynamic finish.

The grapes are sourced exclusively from the family’s Pritchard Hill estate. The 2019 vintage in Napa Valley began with a cool, rainy weather that replenished soils and led to a vigorous start to the growing season. A temperate summer allowed for steady ripening, culminating in perfectly timed warmth in October that ensured optimal phenolic maturity. This resulted in a vintage known for excellent concentration, vibrant aromatics, and wonderfully tannins, setting the stage for a powerful, yet elegant wine with impressive aging potential. In order to soften the tannins and add a layer of extra complexity to the final blend, the wine has been aged in new french oak barrels, with additional bottle ageing time before it was deemed ready for the market release.

Cabernet Sauvignon is grown all over the world in a wide range of climates and regions and it can produce wines that are very high in tannins and acidity, that can mature and develop for many years in the bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon is also a late ripening grape variety, which means that it is best suited for warm climates, where it is capable to produce wines that can reach into realms of perfection, where they are rarely followed.

Napa Valley, located in Northern California, is one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions, celebrated for its high-quality wines. The valley’s mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, is moderated by the cool marine air and fog funneled in from the San Pablo Bay, creating significant diurnal temperature variation that preserves acidity in the grape berries.  While Cabernet Sauvignon is the region’s flagship grape, producing bold, structured, and age-worthy reds, Napa Valley also excels with top-rated Chardonnay and Merlot.
St. Helena AVA, located in the northern heart of Napa Valley, is known for its warm, sunny climate and exceptional ability to ripen bold red varieties. Sheltered by the Mayacamas and Vaca mountain ranges, this sub-region experiences high daytime temperatures moderated by cool nighttime breezes, creating a broad diurnal shift that preserves acidity and enhances complex flavor development. The soils here are diverse, ranging from gravelly loam to volcanic deposits, thus offering excellent drainage and low fertility, which stress the vines just enough to produce concentrated and complex wines.

color: deep & opaque ruby color
clarity: noble ruby shades at the rim

In the glass, the wine presents a deep and opaque ruby color, indicative of its concentration and youthful vigor, with noble ruby shades shimmering at the rim, hinting at its depth and potential for further development.

intensity: pronounced & dusty
fruit character: ripe-to-overripe

On the first nose, this wine unveils a nuanced dusty character with a ripe-to-overripe fruit character. The foreground is dominated by dusty notes (think pencil lead, crushed granite, and dry dust), creating a mineral-driven foundation. This is beautifully complemented by a medley of rich black fruits (dark cherry, black plum, blackberry, and blackcurrant), exhibiting a concentrated and expressive nature. As the aroma unfolds, the background reveals spicy accents of peppercorn mix and cloves, seamlessly integrated with oaky nuances of sweet tobacco, toasted oakwood, and cloves, derived from barrel aging. Subtle savory hints (a touch of iron and old leather), add further intrigue, creating an aromatic tapestry that is both powerful and sophisticated.

sweetness: dry | acidity: high | alcohol: high | tannin: high | balance: fine
finish: lasting | aftertaste: velvety-rich

The palate delivers even further complexity, presenting a wine that feels velvety and voluptuous. It feels vibrant and rich, showcasing a bold and elegant character. The wine is dry, with vibrant acidity and a well-integrated alcoholic warmth, adding depth and power without being intrusive. The tannins are feel velvety and fine-grained, providing substantial structure and grip while coating the mouth with a pleasant, slightly seedy texture that lingers through the finish. The mouthfeel is ample and inky, amazingly well structured and balanced from start to finish. The mid-palate is a harmonious blend of concentrated fruit, earthy minerals, and savory notes, leading to a velvety-rich aftertaste that is long and persistent, leaving an impression of power that is balanced by a beautiful sense of noble elegance.

maturity: developing | drink now or in the next 3 to 5 years
verdict: excellent | a reference wine | a wine that can reach into the realm of perfection

Overall, this is a true benchmark for a Napa Valley, mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine blend that showcases a nuanced dusty accent derived from its unique terroir, with that inky and ample sensation on the palate. It embodies the genuine new-world style, characterized by concentration of fruit and power, yet beautifully integrates those savory notes of the local terroir, making it the epitome of a modern Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine displays fantastic balance and restraint in its use of oak, allowing the vibrant fruit and earthy complexity to shine without being overwhelmed, offering a beautiful sense of elegance. The wine is still developing, enjoyable today yet with the structure and depth to age gracefully for another 3 to 5 years – a must-try for any enthusiasts of world-class Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines.

Given its bold character and vibrant acidity, this wine is an ideal partner for robust and flavorful dishes – think grilled or roasted red meats, like a seared wagyu steak or a herb-crusted rack of lamb, where the wine’s tannins will beautifully cut through the fat richness of the meat. The complexity of the dish will stand up to the wine’s intensity, while the hearthy elements will resonate with the dusty characteristics found in the wine. Enjoy!
CHAPPELLET | Signature | Cabernet Sauvignon | 2019
variety: cabernet sauvignon | petit verdot | malbec | merlot
country: USA
region: California | Napa Valley | St. Helena | Pritchard Hill
rating: 98.0

Chappellet Vineyard is one of Napa Valley’s pioneering wineries, founded in 1967 by Donn and Molly Chappellet who championed mountain vineyard sites long before they were widely recognized. It remains one of the few iconic Napa Valley wineries still owned and operated by the founding family. This Signature Cabernet Sauvignon received significant critical acclaim, including 96 points from Decanter, 95 points from James Suckling, and 93 points from Robert Parker, underscoring its status as a top-tier CS-based wine blend.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!