Dec 30, 2022
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Chappellet
| Owner(s) | Chappellet Family |
| Web site | www.chappellet.com |
| Link to this site |
Donn and Molly Chappellet found a magnificent property on Pritchard Hill in the Napa Valley in the early 1960s and were the first winery to plant vineyards exclusively on high elevation hillsides. The first wines were released from the 1967 vintage.
Chappellet is most known for Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon which have consistently received high praise from critics. A superb Napa Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are also offered from purchased grapes.
A second generation of the family joined the parents recently and are devoted to preserving the land and the winery's reputation. Donn passed away in mid 2016.
Phillip Corallo-Titus has been in charge of the winery's winemaking program since 1990.
Articles About Chappellet
Reviewed Wines
2017 Chappellet Grower Collection Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.74,
TA 0.58, 1,288 cases, $45. Sourced from some of the most prized sections of Pinot Noir at Dutton Ranch.
Clones 115, 667, 777 and Pommard. Harvest Brix 24.8º.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Plenty of oakdriven
perfume of dark chocolate, toast and vanilla upon opening, but the oak declines over time and
blackberry and black currant aromas come to the front. The luscious core of purple and black fruits is quite
satisfying. Silken in texture, with agreeable tannins, sooty oak in the background and a modest finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collective Calesa Vineyard Petaluma Gap Chardonnay
14.1% alc., pH 3.35, TA
0.63, 1,646 cases, $45. Vineyard is farmed by acclaimed grower Oscar Renteria. Shallow, gravelly loam soils.
Sourced from five prized hillside blocks. Clones are ENTAV 548, Robert Young, Dijon 809 and Spring
Mountain. Harvest Brix 23.1º.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas
of lemon pith, white flower blossom, paraffin, butter and toast. A beautiful wine that is sleek and vivacious with
energy to spare. Flavors of lemon and white stone fruits have good intention. The wine finishes with the
slightest bitterness.
Score: 92.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collective El Novillero Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay
14.1% alc., pH 3.35, TA
0.69, 675 cases, $45. Vineyard planted by the Sangiacomo
family. Well-drained rock and gravel soils. One block of
Robert Young clone Chardonnay planted in 1993. Harvest
Brix 24.7º. 100% malolactic fermentation and aged in
French oak barrels, 42% new.
·
Moderately light golden
yellow color in the glass. Very enticing aromas of lemon oil,
apple and creme caramel. Rich and full-flavored on the palate offering
expansive flavors of lemon, pineapple and pear. Excellent energy, deft
oak accent, and a crunchy, juicy finish. This wine alerts all the senses
and brings one’s attention to bear.
Score: 94.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collective Sangiacomo Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay
14.1% alc., pH 3.40, TA
0.68, 1,130 cases, $45. A cool, windswept vineyard bordering San Pablo Bay where the grapes slowly mature.
Roberet Young, Hyde and Caterina clones. Harvest Brix 23.0º.
·
Light golden yellow color in the glass. Leading
off are aromas of lemon, pineapple, white peach and seashore. Beautifully composed with excellent harmony,
offering fresh flavors of lemon and pear. The wine offers ideal oak integration, bracing acidity, a creamy mouth
feel and some finish that displays a stony grip.
Score: 93.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collection Bateman Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH
3.57, TA 0.67, 273 cases, $60. Vineyard was founded by Paul and Lee Fay Bateman. It is located in the Green
Valley of Russian River Valley. Clones 115 and 777 are planted in Goldridge sandy loam on a sloping eastfacing
hillside that receives abundant morning sunshine but is protected from the afternoon heat. Harvest Brix
24.8º.
·
Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Fresh aromas of boysenberry and blackberry with a hint of oak
and underbrush. A mid weight plus style offering waves of purple and black berry fruits that are mouth filling but
not jammy. The tannins are complimentary, a bit of oak plies the background, and the wine finishes with fruitladen
generosity. A wine for fruit hedonists.
Score: 92.
Reviewed June 19, 2019
ARTICLE »
2014 Chappellet Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.5% alc.,
pH 3.43, TA 0.60, $35. Harvest Brix 24.2º. Sourced from
vineyards in some of the coolest regions of Napa Valley
with the majority from Kelly Ranch that overlooks San
Pablo Bay. Aged on lees for 8 months in French oak
barrels, 33% new. A significant portion of the wine
underwent malolactic fermentation.
·
Moderate golden
yellow color and clear in the glass. An exceptional wine
in every way, with soaring aromas of yellow orchard fruits, citrus blossom
and honey that persist over time in the glass, and juicy flavors of lemon
and white peach fruits with hints of vanilla and caramel. Classically
styled, with a seamless character, and texturally soft and smooth, this
wine is like a brisk, refreshing walk at sunrise.
Score: 94.
Reviewed April 22, 2016
ARTICLE »
2011 Chappellet Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.5% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.64, $35. From the Kelly
Ranch, a cool site in the rolling hills above San Pablo Bay and the Poe and Red Hen vineyards,
farmed by the Laird family. Dijon clones 95 and 96 and Robert young clone. Winemaker Phillip
Corallo-Titus, the winemaker at Chappellet for over twenty years.
·
Pale straw color and clear in the
glass. Oak-infused aromas of yellow peach, lemon, pastry cream and blond caramel. Tasty core of
lemon cream, baked pear and toffee. Slightly creamy with complimentary oak in the background.
Good.
Reviewed April 13, 2013
ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collection Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.74, TA 0.58, 1,288 cases, $45. Sourced from some of the most prized sections of Pinot Noir at Dutton Ranch. Clones 115, 667, 777 and Pommard. Harvest Brix 24.8º. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Plenty of oakdriven perfume of dark chocolate, toast and vanilla upon opening, but the oak declines over time and blackberry and black currant aromas come to the front. The luscious core of purple and black fruits is quite satisfying. Silken in texture, with agreeable tannins, sooty oak in the background and a modest finish. Score: 90. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collective Calesa Vineyard Petaluma Gap Chardonnay
14.1% alc., pH 3.35, TA 0.63, 1,646 cases, $45. Vineyard is farmed by acclaimed grower Oscar Renteria. Shallow, gravelly loam soils. Sourced from five prized hillside blocks. Clones are ENTAV 548, Robert Young, Dijon 809 and Spring Mountain. Harvest Brix 23.1º. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. A complex nose offers aromas of lemon pith, white flower blossom, paraffin, butter and toast. A beautiful wine that is sleek and vivacious with energy to spare. Flavors of lemon and white stone fruits have good intention. The wine finishes with the slightest bitterness. Score: 92. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collective El Novillero Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay
14.1% alc., pH 3.35, TA 0.69, 675 cases, $45. Vineyard planted by the Sangiacomo family. Well-drained rock and gravel soils. One block of Robert Young clone Chardonnay planted in 1993. Harvest Brix 24.7º. 100% malolactic fermentation and aged in French oak barrels, 42% new. · Moderately light golden yellow color in the glass. Very enticing aromas of lemon oil, apple and creme caramel. Rich and full-flavored on the palate offering expansive flavors of lemon, pineapple and pear. Excellent energy, deft oak accent, and a crunchy, juicy finish. This wine alerts all the senses and brings one’s attention to bear. Score: 94. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collective Sangiacomo Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay
14.1% alc., pH 3.40, TA 0.68, 1,130 cases, $45. A cool, windswept vineyard bordering San Pablo Bay where the grapes slowly mature. Roberet Young, Hyde and Caterina clones. Harvest Brix 23.0º. · Light golden yellow color in the glass. Leading off are aromas of lemon, pineapple, white peach and seashore. Beautifully composed with excellent harmony, offering fresh flavors of lemon and pear. The wine offers ideal oak integration, bracing acidity, a creamy mouth feel and some finish that displays a stony grip. Score: 93. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2017 Chappellet Grower Collection Bateman Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.67, 273 cases, $60. Vineyard was founded by Paul and Lee Fay Bateman. It is located in the Green Valley of Russian River Valley. Clones 115 and 777 are planted in Goldridge sandy loam on a sloping eastfacing hillside that receives abundant morning sunshine but is protected from the afternoon heat. Harvest Brix 24.8º. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Fresh aromas of boysenberry and blackberry with a hint of oak and underbrush. A mid weight plus style offering waves of purple and black berry fruits that are mouth filling but not jammy. The tannins are complimentary, a bit of oak plies the background, and the wine finishes with fruitladen generosity. A wine for fruit hedonists. Score: 92. Reviewed June 19, 2019 ARTICLE »
2014 Chappellet Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.5% alc., pH 3.43, TA 0.60, $35. Harvest Brix 24.2º. Sourced from vineyards in some of the coolest regions of Napa Valley with the majority from Kelly Ranch that overlooks San Pablo Bay. Aged on lees for 8 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. A significant portion of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation. · Moderate golden yellow color and clear in the glass. An exceptional wine in every way, with soaring aromas of yellow orchard fruits, citrus blossom and honey that persist over time in the glass, and juicy flavors of lemon and white peach fruits with hints of vanilla and caramel. Classically styled, with a seamless character, and texturally soft and smooth, this wine is like a brisk, refreshing walk at sunrise. Score: 94. Reviewed April 22, 2016 ARTICLE »
2011 Chappellet Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.5% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.64, $35. From the Kelly Ranch, a cool site in the rolling hills above San Pablo Bay and the Poe and Red Hen vineyards, farmed by the Laird family. Dijon clones 95 and 96 and Robert young clone. Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, the winemaker at Chappellet for over twenty years. · Pale straw color and clear in the glass. Oak-infused aromas of yellow peach, lemon, pastry cream and blond caramel. Tasty core of lemon cream, baked pear and toffee. Slightly creamy with complimentary oak in the background. Good. Reviewed April 13, 2013 ARTICLE »