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. — 25 days ago
SPEcTACULAR!!! — 2 months ago
1996 vintage. Last tasted 5.8.25 (9.5), 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). Decanted with some sed and tasted after an hour. Solid cork and fill. This was the worst showing of the last visits with less tannic structure and slightly more richness. Tasted a bit more like their "Au Paradis" offering. Not totally dissuaded from picking up another few bottles for enjoyment in the few 5 years or so tho. Three out of four bottles surveyed were fabulous and this wasn't a total swing and a miss. 07.18.25. — 2 months ago
What a great refined wine. The 2018 Insignia opens with aromas of dark fruit, florals, and spice. On the palate, blackberry, mocha, and plum come through with a nice texture and tannins. The finish is long, savory, and elegant. Wow! — a month ago
[Tasted on August 22, 2020 at Home with Tom and Kathy]
Purchased wine during 2018 visit to winery. Blackberry, black currant and black cherry fruit, with graphite and spice. — 5 years ago
Lovely now with a great glass filling nose. Fresh an vibrant on the palate, juicy red fruits, cedar, smoke and cigar boxes. Delicate now after 16 years but far from over the hill. Love this wine and an incredible value. — 21 days ago
Quite delicious. 2018 — 22 days ago
Very dark with earth, cocoa, and blackberry. — 2 months ago
Plum, blackberry and dark chocolate tones. Nice and smooth. — 2 months ago
Dark fruit and medium tannins. Gorgeous — 2 days ago
Full bodied and with a great taste of oak. So rich in flavor. — 2 months ago
An excellent wine (although I prefer the Realm Farella from this vintage). Deep purple color and full-bodied. Blackberries, currants, black olives, and a hint of tobacco. — 2 months ago
Rick Phillips
Bold earthy notes with just a hint of tobacco. Great example of the Mondavi collaboration. The last bottle of a case I purchased in 2003. Just as delicious now as it was then! — 10 days ago