Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chapellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend 2023
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A vibrant Bordeaux-style blend from Chapellet, a pioneering family-owned estate high on Pritchard Hill since 1967. Known for its rocky, elevated vineyards and bold mountain-grown fruit, Chapellet crafts this approachable yet terroir-rich blend for both immediate enjoyment and graceful aging.

Blend Composition
• 51% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 24% Merlot
• 10% Petit Verdot
• 8% Malbec
• 7% Cabernet Franc 

Aromas & Flavors
Effusively aromatic with dark cherries, blackberries, and plums, framed by spicy oak notes of clove, cardamom, cedar, plus touches of black pepper and savory herbs. The palate mirrors this with plush ripe berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins, and finishes with lingering dark chocolate and anise.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a luxuriously textured core. The fine-grained tannins wrap the fruit beautifully, balanced by inherent freshness—creating a long, silky, and satisfying finish.  

Winemaking Notes
Crafted under the guidance of Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, the 2023 vintage benefitted from a cool growing season and carefully managed canopy work to preserve freshness and reduce yields. Fermented and aged to deliver immediate appeal without compromising structure. 

Food Pairing
A versatile pairing wine—ideal with grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or herbed lamb chops. It also complements rich pasta sauces and grilled mushrooms—luxurious yet approachable.

Verdict
Mountain Cuvée 2023 is a powerful yet elegant Napa blend, showcasing depth, freshness, and mountain intensity. It’s a beautifully balanced wine that offers a compelling mix of immediate pleasure and layered complexity. A benchmark for mountain-grown Bordeaux blends. — a month ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Outstanding QPR! 51% Cab Sauv, then Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot. Drinking very well now with some air but has stuffing. Love the balance here. With NY Strip. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A blend of 6 vintages - 2020 (51%), 2019 (31%), 2018 (3%), 2017 (8%), 2016 (5%), and 2015 (2%). From the Hoffmann’s Dallwitz vineyard. 6327 bottles filled. Aromatics of old vine Barossa Shiraz. The fruit is so plush and ample together with liquorice, chocolate, blue fruits, and spices that it masks the M plus tannins. I note that Fraser likes to taste these Little Wines “when primal and vital, a year or two after vintage “. I totally agree. I have tasted Little Wines with over 5 years of cellaring and find that you are giving up that freshness and vitality for a limited increase in savoury profile. The secondary value of Sami-Odi wines have increased dramatically in recent years. I paid $55 per bottle on release and note that United Cellars are now selling for $325. All the more annoying when I broke a bottle unpacking the tricky little cartons of 3 when I received them. The odd 4 letter word was uttered!!! Therefore I have one left for future enjoyment. I ended up having the last bottle 68 weeks later on 4th May 2025 with consistent notes taking into account Fraser’s note that he likes to drink Little Wine in its first couple of years. Blackberry currant and chocolate. — 2 years ago

Kevin Dale

9.4

51% Cab Franc, 49% Merlot
Referred to as “The Beast” since it still tastes so young and will drink well for another 15-20 years. Tasted with the 2018 and seemed “younger” than the 2018. — 2 months ago

Randy Fillingim

9.0

30 years old and still bringing it. Drank with my blushing bride of 51 years on Valentine’s Day. It was a good choice. Both. — 8 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. 51% Syrah, 17% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 7% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 3% Carignan, 2% Zinfandel. Willow Creek District. 78% Paderewski Vyd, 11% Capapult Vyd, 11% York Mountain Vyd. Heavy/full-bodied. Out of the four, current, Epoch red efforts, this had the best QPR. Just under $40 resto cost. 5.29.24. — a year ago

M F

9.0

2021 Salmon Run Chardonnay-Riesling
51% Chardonnay 49% Riesling
Very nice. Birthday gift from P. To E. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense dark crimson - almost black in colour. Red and black fruits, choc/mocha; and wild mint. An inner core of strength, concentration and intensity. The following night - Blackberry, rich, ripe fruits. A powerful 389 which will live for decades. My first of 11. Destined for greatness. 100% American Oak. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon; 49% Shiraz. — 5 months ago

JKT

9.1

First taste!? Mature with a bit of bricking but still nice solid color and bouquet of mature red fruits and earth. Velvety and enticing on palate. Excellent with Evan’s Shanghainese pork belly. 51/43/4/2 Merlot/Cab/CabFranc/Petit Verdot on label from Bernard Magrez touting same attention as his Pape Clement, and long history dating back to 1120. Importer label says 37/55/6/2 instead! (Oldest in Medoc, 1400 by house of Foix loyal to King of England. 1486 Camet new owner. 1500s by Michel de Montaigne.) — a year ago

"Odedi"

9.1

#kosherWineSunday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black plums, light cedar, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, black pepper and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7 year old Petite Sirah blend from Israel is still drinking very nicely. Fruit forward and rich. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes in the decanter.

I had it 2 years ago and it is still delicious. Alcohol is high, but it is well integrated by now. Spicy and tangy on the finish.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Lamb Loin with red wine and baby Bella mushrooms.

A blend of 51% Petite Sirah, 33% Petit Verdot and 16% Shiraz. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. Kosher and Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40 (recent vintage). — 2 years ago