Freddy R. Troya

9.7

Chappellet – Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.
Napa Valley AVA · Pritchard Hill · California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
The crown jewel of Chappellet’s portfolio and one of Napa Valley’s true mountain icons. Made in extremely limited quantities, this wine represents the pinnacle of the estate’s Bordeaux-inspired philosophy, an expression of power, elegance, and the profound identity of Pritchard Hill.
A masterful blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot, crafted with meticulous precision to honor Donn Chappellet’s original vision.

Aromas & Flavors
A captivating aromatic spectrum: liqueur-like blackcurrant, cassis, and ripe blackberry, followed by violet, cedar, and sweet oak. Layers of black tea, roasted coffee, graphite, cinnamon, and vanilla bean slowly emerge as it opens in the glass, revealing depth with each minute.

Mouthfeel
Monumental yet refined. Silky but tightly structured tannins frame a core of ultra-concentrated mountain fruit. The palate expands with flavors of black cherry, currant, cocoa powder, espresso, and subtle mineral tension. Long, resonant, and commanding.

Food Pairings
Best reserved for special meals, think: Dry-aged ribeye, Herb-crusted lamb rack, Wagyu with peppercorn sauce, Truffle risotto and/or Aged Gouda or Parmigiano Reggiano

Verdict
A breathtaking Cabernet Sauvignon at the highest echelon of Napa Valley winemaking. Dimension, finesse, and mountain precision all converge here. Every sip affirms its place among California’s elite. Worth every penny, and deserving of a distinguished spot in any serious cellar.

Did You Know?
Pritchard Hill is often called “The Rodeo Drive of Napa Cabernet” due to its ultra-prestigious hillside estates and intensely low-yielding vineyards. Chappellet was the very first to plant here, which is why they’re referred to as “The Pioneers of Pritchard Hill.”

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A wine I proudly cellar myself. Massive yet graceful, a true mountain Cabernet that stops you in your tracks. This is the Chappellet bottle that leaves even seasoned tasters saying “whoa.” Cheers! — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

An amazing high level Margaret River Chardonnay drinking at its peak. Smoky herbal aromas with ripe grapefruit. A medium + bodied palate of profound intensity. Still mainly citrus and ripe grapefruit notes on the palate with mineral. Great right now but would go on at this level for a year or two. My last bottle of the 2015. — 2 months ago

David White

9.1

Excellent new vintage 2024, crisp and dry excellent fresh melon and lemon nose with good acidity and flavours on palate.
Always an enjoyable drop! — 3 months ago

Martin Mazner

8.9

Lovely wine but could pass for a hearty sauv blanc — 4 months ago

with Naveen

Bob McDonald

9.3

Aromatics of black fruits with a touch of menthol (eucalyptus in these parts). Not as herbaceous as the northern part of Margaret River up In Wilyabrup. Oak is noticeable on the palate initially (even at 16 years). One of the few Cab Merlot blends as their top Cuvée (Cullen is another) in preference to straight Cabernet Sauvignon. On the palate ripe black fruits and mulberry. Finishes with fine tannins. HH has a long drinking window on this, up to 2039 which I don’t think many will have the willpower to follow- including me. — 7 months ago

Louis Martin

9.1

Blackberry and spice on the nose, fine sand textured tannins, lively acidity and cherry plum flavor. — 9 months ago

Mark Osmers

9.2

The Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot (2021) reveals a deep ruby core with subtle garnet reflections, suggesting youthful vibrancy with potential for short-term development. The nose is precise and layered, offering blackberry and raspberry fruit interwoven with cedar nuances, indicative of measured oak influence.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with light acidity that enlivens the fruit profile while maintaining balance.

Tannins are fine-grained and unobtrusive, supporting a bright structural framework that lends clarity and poise.

The finish is clean and persistent, marked by freshness rather than weight, making this a versatile companion to dishes such as roasted chicken, grilled salmon, or semi-hard cheeses. — 2 months ago

em g

9.0

Delicious and smooth. Brought over by Hayley on a whine & wine night. — 2 months ago

Des Adams

10

No need to aerate. Beaver lake beer wine and spirits "cooking" wine sale $5 — 2 months ago

DCH

9.4

Really impressed.
St. Innocent’s consistency of style lets terroir shine through their single vineyard series. Like a controlled experiment. 2021 Temperance Hill shows incredible levels of complexity and spice, while maintaining a great degree of balance and approachability. Put simply, it tastes great.

I haven’t had a chance to taste 2021 Momtazi, but this wine has similar levels of depth to prior vintages if memory serves, while being more easily appealing. I’ve tired 2021 Shea, but not side-by-side with this. While the Shea is an excellent wine, for my taste this is more expressive and interesting. — 3 months ago

Paul T HB

9.5

Needs a little air, great recommendation from @Somm David T
First mag of two — 3 months ago

TwiLea Fletcher

9.1

05.28.25
Scandalous! — 7 months ago

Adam Gäfvert

9.8

Fantastic cult wine that I’ve had the pleasure of trying a couple of times now. Lives up to the hype. Amazing in all aspects. Big but super pretty and just keeps rewarding you with greatness every time you return to you glass. — 9 months ago

Ed Chin

9.4

It is so open for business right now. A prime example of Napa old school. Dark fruit and resolved tannins. — a month ago

Jeffrey Howell

9.1

Delicious, well balanced — a month ago

David White

9.4

This 2011 is drinking very nicely and is worthy of its accolades, lovely crimson rim to deep ruby centre, nice tobacco flavours on nose and mouth filling with integrated tannins.
Smooth and long lasting aftertaste
— 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Sunday Lunch with Roast Lamb. Deep Ruby in colour - very dense. A very Margaret River Cabernet - nose with herbs and a little mint. Barb thought a bit of capsicum (bell pepper) on the nose. On the medium bodied balanced palate the tannins are quite soft yet persistent. Leeuwin Estate better known for its outstanding Art Series Chardonnay has been working hard with the red varieties and it shows. — 3 months ago

Paul T HB

9.7

California’s version of White Burgundy. Great older bottle from recent auction. — 4 months ago

Ana Bumgardner

9.3

2018 vintage with homemade pizza on 7/11/25. Really really good wine!! — 5 months ago

John Malcolm

9.2

Lovely wine. Bright red cherries, and a bit of chocolate and spice. Fine tannins. Paired beautifully with salmon. — 9 months ago