Chappellet, Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - Napa Valley 2019

Chappellet, Cabernet Sauvignon Signature - Napa Valley 2019

The estate

In 1967, Donn Chappellet dreamed of making a wine to rival the great First Growths of Bordeaux. Pritchard Hill was the answer to that dream.

Considered a pioneer in the Napa Valley, Chappellet established the second new winery there after the repeal of Prohibition and became the 18th registered member of the Napa Valley Vintners. Family owned for over 50 years, Chappellet is recognized as one of the great Napa Valley wineries. Today, the second generation is committed to continuing the vision of their parents, Donn and Molly Chappellet.

The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon has been the flagship wine for more than three decades. It is a benchmark for the long-lived hillside wines of the Napa Valley; full of structure and aging potential, yet seductively forward in its concentrated varietal character. The dry, rocky soils of Pritchard Hill produce small, intensely flavorful grapes. Crop thinning allows for full, even ripening and elevates flavor complexity.


The 2019 vintage

Weather conditions

The 2019 growing season began with cool, rainy weather throughout winter and spring, which delayed budbreak slightly and resulted in a robust crop and vigorous canopies. The weather remained temperate throughout summer, followed by perfectly timed warm weather in October. 

Tasting notes

Luxuriously dark and concentrated, this wine displays alluring aromas of cassis, dark cherry, spiced plum, chocolate, and sweet baking spices, with hints of toasted oak, cardamom, clove and vanilla from French oak aging. On the palate, this wine is voluptuously full bodied, with a lavish structure and supple tannins framing the ripe dark berry and black currant flavors. As it glides to a long resonant finish, sophisticated hints of espresso, cedar cigar box, anise and fresh herbs emerge, adding nuance and depth.