W a nice veggie/dish from cast iron - great pravda recipe. Great wine with life left. Great dark color, very calicab nose and on palate it had everything. Fruit, balance and length. Very California - maybe too much vanilla?
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Absolutely delicious! Finally opened our 3L double magnum for Thanksgiving, and it was in a wonderful place. Beautiful nose, smooth integrated tannins with all the classic mature Napa Cab qualities, and a nice long finish. A truly wonderful wine that helped make a memorable Thanksgiving gathering for the entire extended family.
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I paid $47 for this, and the 2021 is going for $100. Back in the day, part of this wine's appeal was its QPR. These days - not so much. Along with Sequoia Grove, Chappellet cabernets have been among the very few affordable Napa cabernets that really don't show their stuff until they've spent a few years in the bottle. This one was better than a bottle six months ago, which was better than a bottle last year. I wouldn't be shocked if it continues to improve with still more age.
This was excellent. Drank in a party setting so very basic notes - very sweet and ripe not showing much age but drinking really well with pretty resolved tannins. Currant and black plum fruit.
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W flank steak vietnamese style. Not best combo but very good wine (the tempranillo we had earlier was better). Nice dark color great nose and nice medium weight length. Good wine.
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Another amazing Chap Cab, in perfect place right now. The highlight of mothers day dinner. Dark fruit singing in perfect balance with wood and fine tannins. This wine is now hard to find under 80 - I used to get it for mid 50's, but after having this I think it's worth it. Could go longer of course, but so good now!
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Consistent with a bottle in August, 2022, but unlike that bottle, this one seemed to be just hitting its stride. Yeah, I wish it still had more tannic structure, but with even more secondary notes now, it's still very enjoyable. Last year, I thought it was fading. Right now, it seems to be just getting started.
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Consistent with last time. Steak from BBQ - first BBQ since renovation. Yummy dark, fruity -weighty wine. Very interesting nose and palate. Great bottle, will live as I said before but I’ll keep the rest behind for 3-5 years after having 2 quickly in a row.
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Really solid Mid-level Napa Cab. Shows some heat which is not surprising at almost 15% ABV. Nonetheless, excellent dark fruit and a nice balance of acidity. Tannins are still present but more in the background rather than right in your face. Was ready to go right from the beginning. Still shows plenty of life remaining but I don’t see any reason to hold on to it. Don’t see this getting much, if any, better with further aging.
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1 hr decant. Good bit of sediment. V - Murky, almost deep garnet with medium meniscus and high viscosity Restrained Nose of cherry, blackberry, black currant, baking spice and cocoa. Palate has much more power, and still has a few green herbs along with the fruit. Full bodied with long finish. Not complex but quite tasty. Love the folks at Chap.
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W beef fillet from cast iron skillet. Yummy. This was was super yummy. Decanted 30 mins. Fantastic result. Very mature bricking color, which i thought didnt bode well. BUT it is great, still some tannin, great dark fruit color, nice calicab nose. I’s say drink them in next 2 years as you maybe risking a decline. Great yummy wine though with great balanced finish.
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Probably better a couple years ago - my bad. While the tannins have faded, they're still serviceable, and everything else is pretty damned tasty. Nice nose - black and blue with some red currants and a boatload of appropriate secondary notes and flavors. Wet leaves, a touch of herbaceousness, and a hint of tobacco. Really nice, but the reduced tannins suggest that its days as a foil for rich, fatty foods are numbered. By itself or with lighter foods, it's good for another five years.
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Well, wouldnt you know that at the last bottle after a whole bunch of years, this wine is really terrific. Corbin a glass and drank it over a nice hour it was smooth up with some fruit mostly dried fruits but just a real pleasant drink. Enjoyed it quite a bit. All gone.
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Wonderfully fragranced. Beautiful floral aromas. Deep dark red, nearly black in the glass. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry, and cassis.Nice acidity, and perfectly rounded tannins. Beautiful medium+ finish. Fantastic.
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This has been a wonderful wine for us. Wonderful dark blackberry fruits, mocha, slight vanilla, and and smooth integrated tannins. I think it’s got better with age and usually find we need to drink the Chappellets early rather than later. Our last bottle so if anyone has other Chappellet vintages to recommend, let us know!
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The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Chappellet Signature possesses a dense ruby/purple color, beautiful blueberry and blackberry fruit, and great elegance allied to considerable richness and power. This stunning wine can be drunk now or over the next 12-15+ years. It is a beauty of purity and symmetry. blend of 75%Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 10% Petite Verdot
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I was expecting a little more muscular wine than this proved to be. It’s worth what I paid for it. No more - no less. Drank over 2 days and day 2 was clearly superior. I didn’t pop n pour but gave the first glass a little over an hour of counter time while prepping dinner. Day 1 - Muted plum and leather on the nose - same for flavor with tobacco on the back end. No middle to speak of. Day 2 - More vibrant plum and pomegranate flavors with tobacco. vanilla bean, and a minimal oak influence
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Ok. Cab. Still a bit bright on the sip. Alcohol is there as are raisiny plum flavors with some earth. Tasting fro coravined glass for 90 min. More time breathing helps
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This was excellent. I probably need to start stocking up on these as this producer is quite consistent across vintages and has a profile I like. This was quite powerful and brooding. The '14, which I had recently was a little bit more plush and with more fruit expression, but this was excellent nonetheless. Worth seeking out.
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I tend to like this producer and this vintage generally, and this didn't disappoint. Black fruit, pretty balanced, good power, everything feels cool, aloof and well structured, like many from the '12 vintage in Napa. Might buy more if I can find a good price on it.
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10 months ago I rated this 89 and reported a "bite" after a 2 hour decant. There was no bite on this second bottle almost a year later which was a pnp. I'll attribute the improvement to minor bottle variation. As others have reported, ripe berry and cassis flavors but nothing unique or special.
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A modern style Cabernet, though not so modern anymore. Cookie cutter ripeness, oak & alcohol. Nothing too unique that belies its origin or sense of place in the Napa Valley. I miss Napa Cab produced before Parker. Not bad but not interesting or lively. I hope the pendulum swings back. Dates me as a sexagenarian, but, I don’t mind the euphemism. Living to taste.
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Very typical Cab, nothing special to be honest but certainly not a bad wine. Opened relatively quickly so a good one to grab if you don’t have a lot of decant time.
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Nice cab. Strong over-all berry flavor. long finish. I coravined this glass and drank it over the next 3 hours. Definitely improve overall time. The wine is smooth.
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Not a big fan of Chappellet and most of my bottles were gifted to me. Had this side by side with a 2007 Heitz Cellars and it came off too fruit forward and jammy in comparison. No depth or sophistication. Tends more toward Caymus.
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Oak very present on nose and palate on PnP. After 2 hour decant, oak is integrated and fruit, acidity and oak are all in balance. Medium full mountain fruit body. Signature is usually <80% Cab, and it shows in this wine but in a good way. I wish I could afford to drink wine like this every night! Lots of sediment at the end, so beware!
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- Medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish - I really like this wine. 1 hr decant. Full bodied, berry flavors. Dry smooth. Will still likely improve.
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Dark fresh fruit on the nose with a hint of baby powder and eucalyptus. The first sip revealed bright red cherries followed by dark blue fruit. Rounded mouthfeel with a medium+ finish.
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Relative to my prior tastings over the last few years, tannins have better integrated and this is definitely approachable with some brief decanting. Stylistically, however, this is a stereotypical Napa fruit bomb, much closer to Caymus in terms of its fruit ripeness and softness than say Corison. Some interesting red currant and black currant notes, but overall unbalanced and disappointing.
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Tried with varying aeration times and settled on 3+ hrs minimum. Definitely improved after air. Very bright mid-level quality Cabernet with decent fruit. Fun to drink though not memorable. Better than usual QPR as I got it a couple of years ago for $38 at Whole Foods during their annual 40% off sale...which has since been discontinued after the Amazon takeover (oh well, there will be other positive aspects of the takeover, right? Maybe?)
Update 10/26: stored on nitrogen until today. Always a bit of a risk storing for an extended period on nitrogen (I can usually get 2-3 weeks without the wine spoiling). And the wine was more lush and dense...though that could have been due to the fine sediment that got in the glass. Much more interesting today (with zero aeration...go figure) than the first go-round.
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Had a couple of bone-in Rib-eye steaks to grill so grabbed a solid mid-range Napa Cab (yes sadly $55 is only middle of the road) to match. It didn’t let me down. Pretty much a pop n pour as I opened it but chilled it in the fridge for about 1/2 hour before serving. This was a solid 91, smooth, decent nose and medium finish but not detecting or expecting much complexity. I don’t see this getting better but seems like it would hold for awhile.
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On PnP day one, this was muted and very tight. Did not flesh out much in the glass. On day two, it still was tight after pouring through Vinturi. It took significant time for it to open up in the glass to reveal blue fruit with strong tannins.
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A solid cab with dark blackberry fruit, mocha, slight vanilla, and and smooth integrated somewhat heavy oak finish. The drinking window was short between 30 and 90 minutes, as the layers and finish faded quickly!
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Second Sunday Group: 2012 v 2013 Napa Cabernets (Our house): Inky dark color. Notes of black fruit, vanilla and spice with an underlying perfumed note. Full-bodied with firm sweet tannins and flavors of black fruit. Young, needs time in the cellar. 90-91 pts.
My #6, Domino's #1 Group #1, 26 pts
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Well balanced with tertiary flavors. Great nose, black fruits, rose and earth. Full bodied, aged well, high acidity, tannins and alcohol. Black cherry, boysenberry, cranberry, vanilla, Cedar wood, toast, tobacco, tobacco leaves, morning forest mist. Very delicious mouthfeel. 5 years is just the beginning, add another 5 years for pure excellence.
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This bottle is a killer assassin. Settle fruit on the nose, but as your drink it you will see the impact in your mouth. Big explosions of Cherry tart, black berry, oak.
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On PnP, blueberry just leaps out of the glass on the nose. The palate starts out with ripe blueberry but with 30 minutes in the glass it becomes layered with coffee and nice tannins on the back end. Wonderful.
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Wonderful Cabernet. Very smooth with flavors of black cherry and blackberry. Medium tannins, nice long finish. Paired well with pulled pork, though it was just as good alone after dinner!
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Black olive, cappuccino, ripe cherry, black tea and passion fruit cake. Succulent and savory, with polish and poise. A medium-long finish and enchanting dark berry. So much personality and quite ready. Drink now - 2027.
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Opened and immediately poured through a vinturi. Medium bodied, medium finish. Dominant flavors are dark fruit cherry, blackberry and perhaps a hint of chocolate. Decent wine. Should continue to improve over the next couple of years. Definitely got better the longer it was opened. Good the second day as well.
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- It's high in alcohol with a medium body with a medium finish - Took awhile in the decanter to smooth out completely. Lots of fruit and some pepper. Has some alcohol on the nose. Even ending. Overall very good cab.
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4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Mark & Rochelle's): TLV, Rich and I went in on a case of this with Rich taking the lion's share so he offered one of his during dinner so that we could get a read on it, and the results are "hold!" Popped and poured, this too had a buttered popcorn aroma that luckily did not follow through on the palate. Full-bodied with firm tannins and flavors of cassis and black fruits and vanilla. I like the raw materials but right now this is awfully young and needs at least five years in the cellar, or if drinking now, a long decant.
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Terrific Napa Cab with dark blackberry fruit with hints of spice and cassis. You absolutely need to decant this for at least an hour and the tannins become silky smooth integrating with the fruit. Notes of chocolate, mocha and licorice. Really nice wine.
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Full-bodied and full-flavored cab with notes of baking chocolate and creme caramel. Dark fruit drives a complex flavor profile and some spicy peppercorn bite develops mid-palate that persists into the long finish. Paired with filetto balsamico and mushroom agnolotti. 92 pts. Available at Waltham Costco.
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- It's balanced with a medium body. Silky texture with a medium finish - Opened up and let it breathe for a few hours and drink it over another few hours in total. One definitely improves over time I recommend at least two hours breathing before starting to drink. This is an excellent cab and I am sure it will improve over time enjoy.
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Very enjoyable- 1hr decant, drank with dinner (short ribs). Nose of red and black cherry, vanilla, baking spice. On the palate sweet cherry and vanilla, very smooth tannins. Easy drinking stuff.
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Delicious. Small fruity nose, but big full bodied fruit taste up front with a nice dry finish. Very good wine. Took about an hour for the tannins to soften.
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Opened at Boulder for Kay's birthday dinner. This was decanted for about an hour before dinner. Dark fruits and plums on the nose and palate. Well balanced and lovely. 92+
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Hint of cherries on the nose and palate. Well balanced and not dominated by alcohol. Decanted for about one hour. Had a nice smoothness and long finish.
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Juicy cherry and red currant, with a lot of new oak, upon opening. After few hours of decanting, gained more balance and complexity, with oak getting much more integrated. Strong tannins and good, balanced acidity. The fruit is ripe but not overly ripe, relative to many other 2012 Napa Cabs. Moderate-to-long finish.
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I am very familiar with Chappellet after first having this 15 years ago at my honeymoon in Hawaii. Now on my anniversary, this vintage is as good as ever. Great Cali Cab especially at this price. Pop and poured. Red fruits, licorice, spice, and oak flavors. Very easy wine to enjoy.
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Second bottle in the last week. Short decant. I liked this better right out of the bottle before it got some air. Eucalyptus, licorice, red and black fruit. After it aired, the favors just kind of blended and muddled. Very tasty at that point but not complex. Given the smooth tannins, this doesn't need a lot of age.
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After PnP or a very short decant. Great nose full of red and blue fruit. While the palate was not layered and was one dimensional, I liked the mouthful of dark fruit. Would like to see this with a 60-90 minute decant.
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Great QPR @ Pappas in Houston. PnP so took awhile for hotness to blow off, served way too warm (idiots). After 45 min, lots of cherries and Pritchard Hill character shown through. 12 was good can't wait to see what 13 has at the same age.
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Really lovely. Broad nosed, deep and rich Cali red. Good length, impressive mix of blue, black and red, and decent acidity. Built to drink young (and it's presenting well now), so look to consume in the near term.
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Decanted for about 20, min then drank over another 30 min last night at an after work dinner. Had with roast pork loin.
As it opened up, it really hit a good spot, dark red fruit, with solid yet not bracing acidity, dark red fruit, and a hint of spice on the back end, had a rich layered flavor profile. Great mouth feel, and a great taste. Went great with food, and would have been just as good just sipping.
Sometimes a wine just had another gear, and this was one of them
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- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Round texture with a medium finish - Very nice cab. Needs to breathe for 1+. Hours.
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It smells like plum, blackberry, tobacco, cherry and forest floor. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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Better on the second night. Nose of berry, forest floor and oak. High acidity. Medium-bodied, good balance. Recommend to cellar for a few years and it will improve.
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We bought this on the heels of a 2013 Caymus tasting the night before, hoping to compare the two. After the waiter popped and poured, our first impression was worrisome; that it was a light, acidic, and alcoholically strong tasting wine that resembled little of a traditional napa red devoid of any structure. But oh how patience for the evolution of certain reds on first sight pays. After about 10 minutes, things began to change. Notes of an Italian chianti began to take place, acidity began to balance out, and a light structure began to develop. The color of the wine was gorgeous garnet red from the onset, in front of a short candle the size of a Kennedy half-dollar, and after 45 minutes, this delicate cherry and blackberry and hints of spice and smokiness were making us really happy with this wine. While at first it began as a very strong wild-berry taste, it turned into a very smooth and domesticated rasberry and well-structured wine after an hour. The two guests from Israel that we shared the wine with after an hour loved it, fortunate or not for not having had to go through the growing pains of its evolution. This wine, quite simply, is a great value, evolves like a constitution, and can be had with any meats from salami to steak, salads of tomato and mozarello to rizzoto, and is a pleasure to drink if given the chance to open up. Not short finish with a lingering smooth taste. Soft but appealing tannins offer a potentially nice window of evolution if cellared for a few years. Enjoy the ride up on the last 3/4 of this bottle to the utmost, ending at a 91+, while the 2013 Caymus, beginning at a 91+ with its strong impression out of the gate, offers a diminishing return/ best is behind you feeling after the first 1/4 bottle.
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A cornucopia of berries accented with red cherries and a bit of oak. Slightly disjointed but given its youth, not unexpected. Can be found under $50 which is a great QPR.
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Kabuki Napa Valley Cabernet, the white makeup is over ripe to the point of prunes with a layer of new oak and not much more personality than that. No enjoyment here, not an awful but a disappointing wine that has no pleasure and fortunately I didn't pay for the bottle.
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Had this side by side with a Phelps of the same vintage. This had that telltale bubble gum aroma and flavor of the Mountain Cuvee. The acidity was too sharp. I am done with Chappellet. I score this marginally better than the Mountain Cuvee. Disappointing for the money. See my Phelps review.
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Tobacco, cherry and citrus. Tannins a bit more pronounced than expected. Citrus lingers a bit in the finish. Overall decent but prob not the best bottle of Chappellet I have ever had.
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roast coffee aromas. again, a good dash of iron aromas, along side blackberry fruit. big and soft palate. a citrus zest on the finish. orange zest and tobacco.
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Good wine. Better the second day. The first day, even with aeration, the wine was tight and constricted. The second day revealed a much more open wine with strong notes of cherry and plum. Give this one some more time.
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Powerful. Young. Opens with balsamic to black fruits. Then oak and whiffs of black pepper turns to sweet vanilla and berry. Truffle throughout. Hugely concentrated. Nice supple tannins.
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Classic mountain cab, I see why Chappellet is considered a benchmark winery in Napa. Powerful plum and black currant stays focused all the way through to a long finish. Tannins were supple, integrated, and fine. Other wineries in Napa are charging twice as much for less quality
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This Cab is in its youth, give it some time. Dark rich color, but very flat on a pop and pour 86 points. If you drink it now, give it a good decant as it did show much better as it got a chance to breath. I believe that there is something notable with this cab and I will revisit the remainder of it tonite, stay tuned. 90 Points. Day 2, about the same. My suggestion is to let it rest and revisit after several months. 88-90 points
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New World Blind Tasting Group $40+ (Bin 75): Black core with bright purple rim; smells new, blackberry, sweet, dark raspberry, slightly reductive, spearmint, violets, floral, ash; fuller but very soft, sweet fruit, glycerin, inky, dense yet light on its feet, floral, jammy, juicy; tasty but I was on Malbec.
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This will be one heck of a wine, but it's way too young. Just purchased a case to enjoy over the next few years... I don't think this should be opened until the end of 2015 at the earliest. 2012 should be a great vintage, and the Chappellet should show well.
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i had lofty hopes for this, noting that its sister Pritchard Hill bottling received a lofty 99 score from RMP, but I found it one dimension land overoaked. While admittedly primary, I am hard pressed to see the potential here.
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Vintage Wines Ltd, cab tasting. Was expecting a bit more (3rd of 6). Tough to get through the tannins since the fruit isn't strong enough. Will improve but not interesting enough for me to wait - too many other really good 12's.
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RRV and Napa Visit; 7/7/2014-8/30/2014 (Napa and Sonoma): More fruit, more depth of fruit aromas. Not all estate fruit. They purchase from Continuum, Stagecoach and a couple other sites contiguous with the Chappallet estate. Sounds like one is contiguous to a contiguous site. All from hillside sites in Eastern Napa. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec. They are really excited about the Malbec that they have. Plumper blackberry fruit, spice and more structure. Lovely wine.
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5/1/2024 - MichielV wrote: 92 Points
W a nice veggie/dish from cast iron - great pravda recipe. Great wine with life left. Great dark color, very calicab nose and on palate it had everything. Fruit, balance and length. Very California - maybe too much vanilla?
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3/16/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
Consistent with a bottle five months ago. Holding up just fine.
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11/25/2023 - denisontb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Absolutely delicious! Finally opened our 3L double magnum for Thanksgiving, and it was in a wonderful place. Beautiful nose, smooth integrated tannins with all the classic mature Napa Cab qualities, and a nice long finish. A truly wonderful wine that helped make a memorable Thanksgiving gathering for the entire extended family.
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10/7/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 Points
I paid $47 for this, and the 2021 is going for $100. Back in the day, part of this wine's appeal was its QPR. These days - not so much. Along with Sequoia Grove, Chappellet cabernets have been among the very few affordable Napa cabernets that really don't show their stuff until they've spent a few years in the bottle. This one was better than a bottle six months ago, which was better than a bottle last year. I wouldn't be shocked if it continues to improve with still more age.
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7/20/2023 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
This was excellent. Drank in a party setting so very basic notes - very sweet and ripe not showing much age but drinking really well with pretty resolved tannins. Currant and black plum fruit.
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5/30/2023 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
W flank steak vietnamese style. Not best combo but very good wine (the tempranillo we had earlier was better). Nice dark color great nose and nice medium weight length. Good wine.
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5/14/2023 - robert.kalinowski@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
Another amazing Chap Cab, in perfect place right now. The highlight of mothers day dinner. Dark fruit singing in perfect balance with wood and fine tannins. This wine is now hard to find under 80 - I used to get it for mid 50's, but after having this I think it's worth it. Could go longer of course, but so good now!
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5/5/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent with a bottle in August, 2022, but unlike that bottle, this one seemed to be just hitting its stride. Yeah, I wish it still had more tannic structure, but with even more secondary notes now, it's still very enjoyable. Last year, I thought it was fading. Right now, it seems to be just getting started.
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4/2/2023 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
With mac&cheese sunday night. Perfect cab. Good nose color and taste. Good length and this will live OK
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2/20/2023 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with last time. Steak from BBQ - first BBQ since renovation. Yummy dark, fruity -weighty wine. Very interesting nose and palate. Great bottle, will live as I said before but I’ll keep the rest behind for 3-5 years after having 2 quickly in a row.
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1/28/2023 - awever Likes this wine: 95 Points
Großartige Cabernet -Frucht, raffiniert, lang, ein Wein, der alles hat.
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12/31/2022 - toddmk Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really solid Mid-level Napa Cab. Shows some heat which is not surprising at almost 15% ABV. Nonetheless, excellent dark fruit and a nice balance of acidity. Tannins are still present but more in the background rather than right in your face. Was ready to go right from the beginning. Still shows plenty of life remaining but I don’t see any reason to hold on to it. Don’t see this getting much, if any, better with further aging.
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12/10/2022 - caroleandjay Likes this wine: 91 Points
1 hr decant. Good bit of sediment.
V - Murky, almost deep garnet with medium meniscus and high viscosity
Restrained Nose of cherry, blackberry, black currant, baking spice and cocoa.
Palate has much more power, and still has a few green herbs along with the fruit. Full bodied with long finish. Not complex but quite tasty. Love the folks at Chap.
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11/19/2022 - MichielV wrote: 92 Points
W beef fillet from cast iron skillet. Yummy. This was was super yummy. Decanted 30 mins. Fantastic result. Very mature bricking color, which i thought didnt bode well. BUT it is great, still some tannin, great dark fruit color, nice calicab nose. I’s say drink them in next 2 years as you maybe risking a decline. Great yummy wine though with great balanced finish.
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9/7/2022 - willfab60 wrote: 93 Points
Great time to drink up. At it’s peak.
Dark fruit , tannins nicely resolved.
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8/27/2022 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 Points
Probably better a couple years ago - my bad. While the tannins have faded, they're still serviceable, and everything else is pretty damned tasty. Nice nose - black and blue with some red currants and a boatload of appropriate secondary notes and flavors. Wet leaves, a touch of herbaceousness, and a hint of tobacco. Really nice, but the reduced tannins suggest that its days as a foil for rich, fatty foods are numbered. By itself or with lighter foods, it's good for another five years.
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5/28/2022 - JB12 wrote: 94 Points
Well, wouldnt you know that at the last bottle after a whole bunch of years, this wine is really terrific. Corbin a glass and drank it over a nice hour it was smooth up with some fruit mostly dried fruits but just a real pleasant drink. Enjoyed it quite a bit. All gone.
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4/27/2022 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderfully fragranced. Beautiful floral aromas. Deep dark red, nearly black in the glass. Dark fruit flavors of blackberry, and cassis.Nice acidity, and perfectly rounded tannins. Beautiful medium+ finish. Fantastic.
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2/6/2022 - Marshmallowman Likes this wine: 93 Points
This has been a wonderful wine for us.
Wonderful dark blackberry fruits, mocha, slight vanilla, and and smooth integrated tannins.
I think it’s got better with age and usually find we need to drink the Chappellets early rather than later.
Our last bottle so if anyone has other Chappellet vintages to recommend, let us know!
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1/30/2022 - youngd2o wrote: 91 Points
Not bad for a 10 y old Chappellet
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1/20/2022 - Marshmallowman Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Chappellet Signature possesses a dense ruby/purple color, beautiful blueberry and blackberry fruit, and great elegance allied to considerable richness and power. This stunning wine can be drunk now or over the next 12-15+ years. It is a beauty of purity and symmetry. blend of 75%Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Malbec, 10% Petite Verdot
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1/14/2022 - StraightnoChaser Likes this wine: 91 Points
I was expecting a little more muscular wine than this proved to be. It’s worth what I paid for it. No more - no less.
Drank over 2 days and day 2 was clearly superior.
I didn’t pop n pour but gave the first glass a little over an hour of counter time while prepping dinner.
Day 1 - Muted plum and leather on the nose - same for flavor with tobacco on the back end. No middle to speak of.
Day 2 - More vibrant plum and pomegranate flavors with tobacco. vanilla bean, and a minimal oak influence
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12/8/2021 - Marshmallowman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tastes better than I remember so that’s a good thing, right?
Drinking perfect right now!
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8/1/2021 - JB12 wrote: 91 Points
Ok. Cab. Still a bit bright on the sip. Alcohol is there as are raisiny plum flavors with some earth.
Tasting fro coravined glass for 90 min. More time breathing helps
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4/1/2021 - Marshmallowman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Two snuck out of my wine cellar ... how does that happen??? 😉
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3/13/2021 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
This was excellent. I probably need to start stocking up on these as this producer is quite consistent across vintages and has a profile I like. This was quite powerful and brooding. The '14, which I had recently was a little bit more plush and with more fruit expression, but this was excellent nonetheless. Worth seeking out.
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2/17/2021 - KAP Does not like this wine: 89 Points
A little thin now. Drink up.
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12/2/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
I tend to like this producer and this vintage generally, and this didn't disappoint. Black fruit, pretty balanced, good power, everything feels cool, aloof and well structured, like many from the '12 vintage in Napa. Might buy more if I can find a good price on it.
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11/25/2020 - JB12 wrote: 92 Points
This is drinking well right now. Berry flavors present with some plum. Nice smooth finish.
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9/7/2020 - Vailman Likes this wine: 90 Points
10 months ago I rated this 89 and reported a "bite" after a 2 hour decant. There was no bite on this second bottle almost a year later which was a pnp. I'll attribute the improvement to minor bottle variation. As others have reported, ripe berry and cassis flavors but nothing unique or special.
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6/22/2020 - stokeme wrote: 90 Points
A modern style Cabernet, though not so modern anymore. Cookie cutter ripeness, oak & alcohol. Nothing too unique that belies its origin or sense of place in the Napa Valley. I miss Napa Cab produced before Parker.
Not bad but not interesting or lively. I hope the pendulum swings back. Dates me as a sexagenarian, but, I don’t mind the euphemism. Living to taste.
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5/16/2020 - davidsm Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very typical Cab, nothing special to be honest but certainly not a bad wine. Opened relatively quickly so a good one to grab if you don’t have a lot of decant time.
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5/11/2020 - JB12 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nice cab. Strong over-all berry flavor. long finish. I coravined this glass and drank it over the next 3 hours. Definitely improve overall time.
The wine is smooth.
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12/7/2019 - swade wrote: 93 Points
Aromatic. Big red currant palate. Delicious. 93
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11/28/2019 - Ceo wrote: 92 Points
🍷🍷🍷🍷
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11/25/2019 - Vailman Likes this wine: 89 Points
Two hour decant. High level of alcohol (bite). Short finish; medium body; Cherry and cassis; Night #2 revealed nothing special.
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10/27/2019 - swade wrote: 91 Points
Primary color. Demi sweet entry. Berry compote, not tart, and oak spice. Light grip on the finish. Drink in the next 3-5 years. 91
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10/27/2019 - Steven DiFiore wrote: 87 Points
Not a big fan of Chappellet and most of my bottles were gifted to me. Had this side by side with a 2007 Heitz Cellars and it came off too fruit forward and jammy in comparison. No depth or sophistication. Tends more toward Caymus.
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9/16/2019 - Coachron13 wrote: 88 Points
Light and basic.
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8/31/2019 - jeffjohnsonjj@hotmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Oak very present on nose and palate on PnP. After 2 hour decant, oak is integrated and fruit, acidity and oak are all in balance. Medium full mountain fruit body. Signature is usually <80% Cab, and it shows in this wine but in a good way. I wish I could afford to drink wine like this every night! Lots of sediment at the end, so beware!
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8/20/2019 - JB12 wrote: 94 Points
- Medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium/full body. Round texture with a medium finish - I really like this wine. 1 hr decant. Full bodied, berry flavors. Dry smooth. Will still likely improve.
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4/28/2019 - jweedin Likes this wine: 91 Points
Usually one of the best napa valley values from year to year. This is the best I have had so far. Drink now
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3/31/2019 - dfusina wrote: 89 Points
Oppressive. Heavy on the dark fruit. Needed an acid streak that never showed
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3/13/2019 - Tym4wine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark fresh fruit on the nose with a hint of baby powder and eucalyptus. The first sip revealed bright red cherries followed by dark blue fruit. Rounded mouthfeel with a medium+ finish.
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1/27/2019 - Mad Dane wrote: 93 Points
Brilliant!
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1/21/2019 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Just a great bottle of CAb. Perfect time to drink. Cheers
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1/18/2019 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
ready to drink today. Good fruit is now coming out. Cheers
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11/20/2018 - jamokebob wrote: 89 Points
I little sharp when first opened. Needed a lot of air to smooth out. Tannins were observed but subtle. A touch of spice on the palette
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11/3/2018 - Slaz Does not like this wine: 90 Points
Relative to my prior tastings over the last few years, tannins have better integrated and this is definitely approachable with some brief decanting. Stylistically, however, this is a stereotypical Napa fruit bomb, much closer to Caymus in terms of its fruit ripeness and softness than say Corison. Some interesting red currant and black currant notes, but overall unbalanced and disappointing.
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10/13/2018 - ozziewine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tried with varying aeration times and settled on 3+ hrs minimum. Definitely improved after air.
Very bright mid-level quality Cabernet with decent fruit. Fun to drink though not memorable.
Better than usual QPR as I got it a couple of years ago for $38 at Whole Foods during their annual 40% off sale...which has since been discontinued after the Amazon takeover (oh well, there will be other positive aspects of the takeover, right? Maybe?)
Update 10/26: stored on nitrogen until today. Always a bit of a risk storing for an extended period on nitrogen (I can usually get 2-3 weeks without the wine spoiling). And the wine was more lush and dense...though that could have been due to the fine sediment that got in the glass. Much more interesting today (with zero aeration...go figure) than the first go-round.
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8/31/2018 - Vino_MN Likes this wine: 90 Points
Magnum seemed to age well and could go a few more years before consumption. Well balanced and an easy finish with a nice mouth feel
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7/31/2018 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Had a couple of bone-in Rib-eye steaks to grill so grabbed a solid mid-range Napa Cab (yes sadly $55 is only middle of the road) to match. It didn’t let me down. Pretty much a pop n pour as I opened it but chilled it in the fridge for about 1/2 hour before serving.
This was a solid 91, smooth, decent nose and medium finish but not detecting or expecting much complexity. I don’t see this getting better but seems like it would hold for awhile.
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7/17/2018 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
On PnP day one, this was muted and very tight. Did not flesh out much in the glass. On day two, it still was tight after pouring through Vinturi. It took significant time for it to open up in the glass to reveal blue fruit with strong tannins.
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3/25/2018 - JB12 wrote: 92 Points
- Fleshy texture with a medium finish - Opened for a few hours. This is a solid go to Cab. Plenty of fruit.
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12/9/2017 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full-bodied, smooth. Dark fruit, vanilla. Fabulous with or without food
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11/20/2017 - Randito Likes this wine: 92 Points
A solid cab with dark blackberry fruit, mocha, slight vanilla, and and smooth integrated somewhat heavy oak finish. The drinking window was short between 30 and 90 minutes, as the layers and finish faded quickly!
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11/12/2017 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2012 v 2013 Napa Cabernets (Our house): Inky dark color. Notes of black fruit, vanilla and spice with an underlying perfumed note. Full-bodied with firm sweet tannins and flavors of black fruit. Young, needs time in the cellar. 90-91 pts.
My #6, Domino's #1
Group #1, 26 pts
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11/4/2017 - bkmt wrote:
Very good
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10/21/2017 - WineMedic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Well balanced with tertiary flavors. Great nose, black fruits, rose and earth. Full bodied, aged well, high acidity, tannins and alcohol. Black cherry, boysenberry, cranberry, vanilla, Cedar wood, toast, tobacco, tobacco leaves, morning forest mist. Very delicious mouthfeel. 5 years is just the beginning, add another 5 years for pure excellence.
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10/11/2017 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 91 Points
This bottle is a killer assassin. Settle fruit on the nose, but as your drink it you will see the impact in your mouth. Big explosions of Cherry tart, black berry, oak.
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9/5/2017 - JB12 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about 90 minutes. Wine really opened up with fruit flavors. still a bit spicy on the front end. Really nice cab.
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7/12/2017 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
On PnP, blueberry just leaps out of the glass on the nose. The palate starts out with ripe blueberry but with 30 minutes in the glass it becomes layered with coffee and nice tannins on the back end. Wonderful.
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6/15/2017 - Slaz wrote: 91 Points
Plenty of Napa fruit sweetness, some yet unresolved tannins. Improved over several hours of decanting; not at its peak yet.
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5/6/2017 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth with pleasant dark fruit and long finish
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5/4/2017 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ready to drink upon opening, and stayed steady over three hours. A very good cab for the price, medium-bodied, reasonably long finish, enjoyable.
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4/23/2017 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful Cabernet. Very smooth with flavors of black cherry and blackberry. Medium tannins, nice long finish. Paired well with pulled pork, though it was just as good alone after dinner!
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2/11/2017 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 92 Points
Black olive, cappuccino, ripe cherry, black tea and passion fruit cake. Succulent and savory, with polish and poise. A medium-long finish and enchanting dark berry. So much personality and quite ready. Drink now - 2027.
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12/21/2016 - Greythorne Cellars Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious
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12/11/2016 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fabulous! Even better on night 2!
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11/21/2016 - tantotinto wrote: 91 Points
Black cherry, blackberry and cedar. Rich fruit. a touch of Napa Cab sweetness and a long dusty finish. Open and ready to go. Very good.
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11/8/2016 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 90 Points
Beautiful nose.
Too bad the palate pales in comparison to K Syrah 2013.
Man what a crazy election.
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10/6/2016 - cdp1276 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice fairly smooth tannins and acid structure. With a little more age this wine should show nicely.
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9/17/2016 - ThistleB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent, well- balanced Cabernet! Went well with steak. Nice long finish!
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9/10/2016 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brought to dinner club - drank really well. Much preferred to the Affinity that was also served. Darker, richer and more balanced.
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7/24/2016 - texag96 wrote: 90 Points
Drinking great right now.
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7/2/2016 - pvewino Likes this wine: 91 Points
Opened and immediately poured through a vinturi. Medium bodied, medium finish. Dominant flavors are dark fruit cherry, blackberry and perhaps a hint of chocolate. Decent wine. Should continue to improve over the next couple of years. Definitely got better the longer it was opened. Good the second day as well.
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5/24/2016 - dsan0123 Likes this wine:
So sad to hear that Donn had passed this past Sunday. Toasted him with this wine.
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5/15/2016 - Blakebpalmer Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine is fantastic!! Big bold and beautiful finish!
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4/17/2016 - JB12 wrote: 91 Points
- It's high in alcohol with a medium body with a medium finish - Took awhile in the decanter to smooth out completely. Lots of fruit and some pepper. Has some alcohol on the nose. Even ending. Overall very good cab.
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3/26/2016 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
4th Saturday group "uptown" tasting (Mark & Rochelle's): TLV, Rich and I went in on a case of this with Rich taking the lion's share so he offered one of his during dinner so that we could get a read on it, and the results are "hold!" Popped and poured, this too had a buttered popcorn aroma that luckily did not follow through on the palate. Full-bodied with firm tannins and flavors of cassis and black fruits and vanilla. I like the raw materials but right now this is awfully young and needs at least five years in the cellar, or if drinking now, a long decant.
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3/24/2016 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terrific Napa Cab with dark blackberry fruit with hints of spice and cassis. You absolutely need to decant this for at least an hour and the tannins become silky smooth integrating with the fruit. Notes of chocolate, mocha and licorice. Really nice wine.
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3/16/2016 - JHall106 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Full-bodied and full-flavored cab with notes of baking chocolate and creme caramel. Dark fruit drives a complex flavor profile and some spicy peppercorn bite develops mid-palate that persists into the long finish. Paired with filetto balsamico and mushroom agnolotti. 92 pts. Available at Waltham Costco.
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2/22/2016 - JB12 wrote: 91 Points
- It's balanced with a medium body. Silky texture with a medium finish - Opened up and let it breathe for a few hours and drink it over another few hours in total. One definitely improves over time I recommend at least two hours breathing before starting to drink. This is an excellent cab and I am sure it will improve over time enjoy.
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1/28/2016 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful nose. Nice balanced structure. A little acid on the finish.
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1/27/2016 - ThistleB wrote: 92 Points
Fabulous nose, even more fabulous on the palate. Beautiful long finish. Loved it now, and I'm betting it will even get better with age
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1/15/2016 - Cuellar's Cellar wrote: 91 Points
A great cabernet from Chappetlet. HAs a alot going on. Fruity, well balanced.
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12/29/2015 - Shaun Mondavi wrote: 94 Points
Very enjoyable- 1hr decant, drank with dinner (short ribs). Nose of red and black cherry, vanilla, baking spice. On the palate sweet cherry and vanilla, very smooth tannins. Easy drinking stuff.
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12/25/2015 - vincemcd61 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Delicious. Had with dry aged beef and shrimp wrapped in prosciutto. We should get more!
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12/21/2015 - rduffy21 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Had at scotch
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12/18/2015 - BrendanMcS wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Small fruity nose, but big full bodied fruit taste up front with a nice dry finish. Very good wine. Took about an hour for the tannins to soften.
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12/11/2015 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Opened at Boulder for Kay's birthday dinner. This was decanted for about an hour before dinner. Dark fruits and plums on the nose and palate. Well balanced and lovely. 92+
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12/11/2015 - wrice5000 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Hint of cherries on the nose and palate. Well balanced and not dominated by alcohol. Decanted for about one hour. Had a nice smoothness and long finish.
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11/28/2015 - Slaz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Juicy cherry and red currant, with a lot of new oak, upon opening. After few hours of decanting, gained more balance and complexity, with oak getting much more integrated. Strong tannins and good, balanced acidity. The fruit is ripe but not overly ripe, relative to many other 2012 Napa Cabs. Moderate-to-long finish.
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11/25/2015 - Squilber Likes this wine: 93 Points
I am very familiar with Chappellet after first having this 15 years ago at my honeymoon in Hawaii. Now on my anniversary, this vintage is as good as ever. Great Cali Cab especially at this price. Pop and poured. Red fruits, licorice, spice, and oak flavors. Very easy wine to enjoy.
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11/25/2015 - mgstull Likes this wine: 90 Points
Second bottle in the last week. Short decant. I liked this better right out of the bottle before it got some air. Eucalyptus, licorice, red and black fruit. After it aired, the favors just kind of blended and muddled. Very tasty at that point but not complex. Given the smooth tannins, this doesn't need a lot of age.
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11/14/2015 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
After PnP or a very short decant. Great nose full of red and blue fruit. While the palate was not layered and was one dimensional, I liked the mouthful of dark fruit. Would like to see this with a 60-90 minute decant.
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11/13/2015 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great QPR @ Pappas in Houston. PnP so took awhile for hotness to blow off, served way too warm (idiots). After 45 min, lots of cherries and Pritchard Hill character shown through. 12 was good can't wait to see what 13 has at the same age.
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10/28/2015 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really lovely. Broad nosed, deep and rich Cali red. Good length, impressive mix of blue, black and red, and decent acidity. Built to drink young (and it's presenting well now), so look to consume in the near term.
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10/26/2015 - Coupe 60 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for about 20, min then drank over another 30 min last night at an after work dinner. Had with roast pork loin.
As it opened up, it really hit a good spot, dark red fruit, with solid yet not bracing acidity, dark red fruit, and a hint of spice on the back end, had a rich layered flavor profile. Great mouth feel, and a great taste. Went great with food, and would have been just as good just sipping.
Sometimes a wine just had another gear, and this was one of them
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9/29/2015 - Desert Pilot Likes this wine: 95 Points
Love this wine. Wish I could get more.
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9/27/2015 - Lee Fining wrote: 92 Points
Another quality effort from Chappellet! Good dark red fruit character with smooth tannins in support.
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9/12/2015 - JB12 wrote: 91 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs. It's balanced with a medium body. Round texture with a medium finish - Very nice cab. Needs to breathe for 1+. Hours.
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8/29/2015 - Whinojb wrote: 88 Points
Nose of cherry and strawberry blended with cassis. Creamy vanilla as well. Smooth in the mouth but the finish was short.
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8/28/2015 - Ceo wrote: 92 Points
Big wine was better afer it opened up.
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8/23/2015 - PeterM12 wrote: 90 Points
It smells like plum, blackberry, tobacco, cherry and forest floor. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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8/6/2015 - tmhouse Likes this wine: 90 Points
Better on the second night. Nose of berry, forest floor and oak. High acidity. Medium-bodied, good balance. Recommend to cellar for a few years and it will improve.
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7/25/2015 - Dave_Mowry Likes this wine:
Outstanding bottle - we decanted to accelerate the aeration. It opened up after 10-15 minutes and really was a nice California Cab.
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7/16/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Good, tannic almost chalky, dark fruit, good nose, needs time, consistent winner as always
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7/3/2015 - stschutz Likes this wine: 91 Points
We bought this on the heels of a 2013 Caymus tasting the night before, hoping to compare the two. After the waiter popped and poured, our first impression was worrisome; that it was a light, acidic, and alcoholically strong tasting wine that resembled little of a traditional napa red devoid of any structure. But oh how patience for the evolution of certain reds on first sight pays. After about 10 minutes, things began to change. Notes of an Italian chianti began to take place, acidity began to balance out, and a light structure began to develop. The color of the wine was gorgeous garnet red from the onset, in front of a short candle the size of a Kennedy half-dollar, and after 45 minutes, this delicate cherry and blackberry and hints of spice and smokiness were making us really happy with this wine. While at first it began as a very strong wild-berry taste, it turned into a very smooth and domesticated rasberry and well-structured wine after an hour. The two guests from Israel that we shared the wine with after an hour loved it, fortunate or not for not having had to go through the growing pains of its evolution. This wine, quite simply, is a great value, evolves like a constitution, and can be had with any meats from salami to steak, salads of tomato and mozarello to rizzoto, and is a pleasure to drink if given the chance to open up. Not short finish with a lingering smooth taste. Soft but appealing tannins offer a potentially nice window of evolution if cellared for a few years. Enjoy the ride up on the last 3/4 of this bottle to the utmost, ending at a 91+, while the 2013 Caymus, beginning at a 91+ with its strong impression out of the gate, offers a diminishing return/ best is behind you feeling after the first 1/4 bottle.
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6/1/2015 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decent bottle of wine. Tons of fruit on the nose. Seems to have a high level of alcohol. not much tannins on this at all.
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5/25/2015 - PerfectVintage Likes this wine: 91 Points
A cornucopia of berries accented with red cherries and a bit of oak. Slightly disjointed but given its youth, not unexpected. Can be found under $50 which is a great QPR.
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5/19/2015 - Woodbridge Brad wrote: 85 Points
Kabuki Napa Valley Cabernet, the white makeup is over ripe to the point of prunes with a layer of new oak and not much more personality than that. No enjoyment here, not an awful but a disappointing wine that has no pleasure and fortunately I didn't pay for the bottle.
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5/12/2015 - wineotim wrote: 88 Points
Had this side by side with a Phelps of the same vintage. This had that telltale bubble gum aroma and flavor of the Mountain Cuvee. The acidity was too sharp. I am done with Chappellet. I score this marginally better than the Mountain Cuvee. Disappointing for the money. See my Phelps review.
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4/26/2015 - clmtgr wrote: 89 Points
Tobacco, cherry and citrus. Tannins a bit more pronounced than expected. Citrus lingers a bit in the finish. Overall decent but prob not the best bottle of Chappellet I have ever had.
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4/18/2015 - Scottyinus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Needs some time to open up
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4/1/2015 - mikeparker Likes this wine: 91 Points
Tried tonight . Minimum decanting. Very nice for the price. Smooth easy drinking .
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3/25/2015 - Tom Myers Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still a young pup...should improve with some age
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3/14/2015 - Cardinalscientific Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good but very young. Needs more time to develop.
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3/6/2015 - nzinkgraf wrote:
roast coffee aromas. again, a good dash of iron aromas, along side blackberry fruit. big and soft palate. a citrus zest on the finish. orange zest and tobacco.
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3/4/2015 - CJM wrote: 85 Points
Clear, deep garnet. Cassis, blackberry. Low acids, low tannins. Black plum. Medium to short tannic finish. Winery tasting
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2/20/2015 - pvewino Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good wine. Better the second day. The first day, even with aeration, the wine was tight and constricted. The second day revealed a much more open wine with strong notes of cherry and plum. Give this one some more time.
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2/15/2015 - jmasterj Likes this wine:
Powerful. Young. Opens with balsamic to black fruits. Then oak and whiffs of black pepper turns to sweet vanilla and berry. Truffle throughout. Hugely concentrated. Nice supple tannins.
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2/15/2015 - jcassi01 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic mountain cab, I see why Chappellet is considered a benchmark winery in Napa. Powerful plum and black currant stays focused all the way through to a long finish. Tannins were supple, integrated, and fine. Other wineries in Napa are charging twice as much for less quality
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2/14/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Forward, easy drinking, soft, ripe and round, with ripe blackberries, chocolate and licorice in the finish.
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12/13/2014 - Yack Man Likes this wine: 89 Points
This Cab is in its youth, give it some time. Dark rich color, but very flat on a pop and pour 86 points. If you drink it now, give it a good decant as it did show much better as it got a chance to breath. I believe that there is something notable with this cab and I will revisit the remainder of it tonite, stay tuned. 90 Points. Day 2, about the same. My suggestion is to let it rest and revisit after several months. 88-90 points
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12/12/2014 - Rezy13 wrote:
New World Blind Tasting Group $40+ (Bin 75): Black core with bright purple rim; smells new, blackberry, sweet, dark raspberry, slightly reductive, spearmint, violets, floral, ash; fuller but very soft, sweet fruit, glycerin, inky, dense yet light on its feet, floral, jammy, juicy; tasty but I was on Malbec.
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11/27/2014 - ryandmartin Likes this wine: 89 Points
This will be one heck of a wine, but it's way too young. Just purchased a case to enjoy over the next few years... I don't think this should be opened until the end of 2015 at the earliest. 2012 should be a great vintage, and the Chappellet should show well.
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11/11/2014 - JonnyG wrote: 88 Points
i had lofty hopes for this, noting that its sister Pritchard Hill bottling received a lofty 99 score from RMP, but I found it one dimension land overoaked. While admittedly primary, I am hard pressed to see the potential here.
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9/13/2014 - yeti575rider wrote: 88 Points
Vintage Wines Ltd, cab tasting. Was expecting a bit more (3rd of 6). Tough to get through the tannins since the fruit isn't strong enough. Will improve but not interesting enough for me to wait - too many other really good 12's.
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8/3/2014 - nzinkgraf wrote:
RRV and Napa Visit; 7/7/2014-8/30/2014 (Napa and Sonoma): More fruit, more depth of fruit aromas. Not all estate fruit. They purchase from Continuum, Stagecoach and a couple other sites contiguous with the Chappallet estate. Sounds like one is contiguous to a contiguous site. All from hillside sites in Eastern Napa.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec. They are really excited about the Malbec that they have. Plumper blackberry fruit, spice and more structure. Lovely wine.
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