This Chappallet Cab Franc is delicious. The bouquet is big and really pulls you in. Cedar, strawberry, basil, peppercorn and black tea are the predominant components of the aroma. Its color is an inked purple with brighter red and amber at the edge of the glass. On the palate the wine is more delicate than i anticipated. Tart blackberry and luxardo cherry make up the flavor with subtle powdery tannins. We cellared this wine for about a year and a half and found that it reduced the fruitiness on the palate from previous tastings. I give this a 92 because it lacks the attention to detail on the finish that would otherwise make this a higher score. Keep Guzzlin’
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This is a killer wine! Elegant, silky, mouthful flavor of ripe blue and black fruit, caramel, mocha, a bit of forest floor. Inviting nose, soft tannins and savory long finish. As another subscriber commented, this is a great alternative to a Napa Cab and has to be in your cellar. Chappellet Cab Franc never deceived. NI:5, FC:23, FC:10, B:4, L:5
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This wine should be in everyone's cellar. This is a wine that is faulted only by the fact that is is Cab Franc and not Cab Sauv. Lushish rich robust dark fruit. Full body, which should fade to balanced greatness.
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Still very young. Reminds me of the 16. Acidic and tight upon opening. At 2.5 hour mark getting blue fruit and floral notes. Smooth tannins. Nice lingering finish. Enjoyable wine after a good decant but needs more time to come into its own. Excited to see what this wine develops into in the years to come.
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Bold Cherry & Red Currant with touch of Spice, Thyme and Sage. Good acidity with ripe dusty tannins. Long finish - Pepper & more Cherry with touch of Oak. Great alternative to a Napa Cab
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This wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec. It was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. It has a deep purple color with medium intensity aromas of blackberry and herbs. On the palate, blackberry, black raspberry and bell pepper are the dominant flavors. The wine has medium tannins and acidity with a med/full body.
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Medium plus ruby in the glass. Herbaceous and some musty notes on the nose with ripe blackberry and pomegranate. I like how the fruit is not overpowered by the must and smoke on the palate. My wife thinks it's too California vs Loire, but I think it is balanced enough, if just somewhat youthful. Finish is round and satisfying... medium in length. Was able to run into this for $45, which I think is proper for the quality. Expect more elegance going forward.
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Vinetasters: Cabernet Franc (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. This again has lots of those floral elements on the nose that I don't particularly care for (in hindsight I have to wonder if that's just how the grape expresses when subject to too much heat). This has a candied note on the palate, and again generally lacks the pyrazines that characterize cabernet franc. High toned on the palate with some pronounced aldehydic elements. Probably the most balanced of the bunch, which isn't really saying that much because the wines truly taste extraordinarily fungible. My 1st, group's 1st.
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The Cab Franc has a deep ruby color with a nose of dark fruits. The wine is 75% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec. Showing medium acidity on the palate, it shows notes of blackberry, dark cherries, and leather. Medium to full bodied with medium well integrated tannins. It has potential to be a greater wine but a 91 for now.
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I enjoyed this wine immensely... Yes it is painfully young and exhibits significant oak influence at this preliminary stage. However one can sense the excellent craftsmanship and the promise of a great CF rendition in the near future.
Removed from a 55 degree active cabinet and let sit for 30 minutes. Enticing nose of black raspberry, menthol, unsweetened dark chocolate, clove, and dark cherry. Medium/full bodied on the palate with black/blue fruit in a compact package. Elegant and silky tannin even at this early juncture. Nice traces of very pleasing vegetal character ( asparagus ) and beetroot usually associated with Cabernet Franc. But there is no mistake that this is a Napa wine... there is no trace of the pronounced acidity/austerity sometimes found in the Loire or Argentinian renditions of this variety.
I would repurchase this in a heartbeat to see how this develops in 5-7 years. Even now a very enjoyable drink if you can look past the young oak influence. Paired with a veal dish with mushrooms, späetzle, and charred Brussels sprouts. Very good QPR in my opinion. Better than some previous vintages.
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Fabulous Cab Francs at Shears Grotto (Shear's Grotto): Surprised this wine drank so well being so young. Peppery nose with blackberry spice, a touch of tobacco, and bell pepper. Fine-grained tannins on the palate, with some licorice on the finish. A well-structured wine with a healthy dose of fruit. Awesome young wine. With more air the wine really started to strut its stuff, evolving nose, very complex with some cinnamon and herbs rubbed on tree bark coming through. Without a doubt the most complex nose of the flight. Finished 2 points ahead of the 2017 Mount Brave Mt Veeder Cab Franc and 3 points ahead of 2016 Debate Stagecoach Cab Franc. My 1/6, the groups 1/6.
4/4/2024 - kandrfairview Likes this wine: 93 Points
Developing well. 2nd of six we bought.
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3/21/2024 - rjf@rjfinlay.com wrote:
Drink now. Hold a few if you love this wine.
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6/25/2023 - theebigjuan Likes this wine: 92 Points
PNP. A touch grapey on the open, but that blew off. Day 2 was even better... integrated throughout.
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12/30/2022 - TheGrapeGuzzler Likes this wine: 92 Points
This Chappallet Cab Franc is delicious. The bouquet is big and really pulls you in. Cedar, strawberry, basil, peppercorn and black tea are the predominant components of the aroma. Its color is an inked purple with brighter red and amber at the edge of the glass. On the palate the wine is more delicate than i anticipated. Tart blackberry and luxardo cherry make up the flavor with subtle powdery tannins. We cellared this wine for about a year and a half and found that it reduced the fruitiness on the palate from previous tastings. I give this a 92 because it lacks the attention to detail on the finish that would otherwise make this a higher score.
Keep Guzzlin’
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10/8/2022 - ivsimler Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of Chappellet's outstanding wines (usually their 3rd priciest I think) and its damn fine.
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9/18/2022 - Dfortin9 Likes this wine: 97 Points
This is a killer wine! Elegant, silky, mouthful flavor of ripe blue and black fruit, caramel, mocha, a bit of forest floor. Inviting nose, soft tannins and savory long finish. As another subscriber commented, this is a great alternative to a Napa Cab and has to be in your cellar. Chappellet Cab Franc never deceived. NI:5, FC:23, FC:10, B:4, L:5
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9/3/2022 - happy712 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Give it a 20 minute decant. Creamy, earthy, and fruity at the same time.
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5/29/2022 - do_itforthewine Likes this wine: 97 Points
This wine should be in everyone's cellar. This is a wine that is faulted only by the fact that is is Cab Franc and not Cab Sauv. Lushish rich robust dark fruit. Full body, which should fade to balanced greatness.
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4/24/2022 - jsebiri wrote:
Very young , likely very promising , rich nose.
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3/11/2022 - Winefrog19 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still very young. Reminds me of the 16. Acidic and tight upon opening. At 2.5 hour mark getting blue fruit and floral notes. Smooth tannins. Nice lingering finish. Enjoyable wine after a good decant but needs more time to come into its own. Excited to see what this wine develops into in the years to come.
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3/9/2022 - pommieba@cox.net Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bold Cherry & Red Currant with touch of Spice, Thyme and Sage. Good acidity with ripe dusty tannins. Long finish - Pepper & more Cherry with touch of Oak. Great alternative to a Napa Cab
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3/4/2022 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is a blend of 75% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec. It was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 60% new. It has a deep purple color with medium intensity aromas of blackberry and herbs. On the palate, blackberry, black raspberry and bell pepper are the dominant flavors. The wine has medium tannins and acidity with a med/full body.
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2/7/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent wine for the price point! Cassis, vanilla, chalky on the palate. Paired great with steak. :-) More notes are coming.
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11/29/2021 - theebigjuan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium plus ruby in the glass. Herbaceous and some musty notes on the nose with ripe blackberry and pomegranate. I like how the fruit is not overpowered by the must and smoke on the palate. My wife thinks it's too California vs Loire, but I think it is balanced enough, if just somewhat youthful. Finish is round and satisfying... medium in length. Was able to run into this for $45, which I think is proper for the quality. Expect more elegance going forward.
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11/7/2021 - acyso wrote: 80 Points
Vinetasters: Cabernet Franc (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. This again has lots of those floral elements on the nose that I don't particularly care for (in hindsight I have to wonder if that's just how the grape expresses when subject to too much heat). This has a candied note on the palate, and again generally lacks the pyrazines that characterize cabernet franc. High toned on the palate with some pronounced aldehydic elements. Probably the most balanced of the bunch, which isn't really saying that much because the wines truly taste extraordinarily fungible. My 1st, group's 1st.
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10/1/2021 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 91 Points
The Cab Franc has a deep ruby color with a nose of dark fruits. The wine is 75% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec. Showing medium acidity on the palate, it shows notes of blackberry, dark cherries, and leather. Medium to full bodied with medium well integrated tannins. It has potential to be a greater wine but a 91 for now.
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7/17/2021 - drdan8 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I enjoyed this wine immensely... Yes it is painfully young and exhibits significant oak influence at this preliminary stage. However one can sense the excellent craftsmanship and the promise of a great CF rendition in the near future.
Removed from a 55 degree active cabinet and let sit for 30 minutes. Enticing nose of black raspberry, menthol, unsweetened dark chocolate, clove, and dark cherry. Medium/full bodied on the palate with black/blue fruit in a compact package. Elegant and silky tannin even at this early juncture. Nice traces of very pleasing vegetal character ( asparagus ) and beetroot usually associated with Cabernet Franc. But there is no mistake that this is a Napa wine... there is no trace of the pronounced acidity/austerity sometimes found in the Loire or Argentinian renditions of this variety.
I would repurchase this in a heartbeat to see how this develops in 5-7 years. Even now a very enjoyable drink if you can look past the young oak influence. Paired with a veal dish with mushrooms, späetzle, and charred Brussels sprouts. Very good QPR in my opinion. Better than some previous vintages.
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5/13/2021 - bubbachumps wrote: 96 Points
Fabulous Cab Francs at Shears Grotto (Shear's Grotto): Surprised this wine drank so well being so young. Peppery nose with blackberry spice, a touch of tobacco, and bell pepper. Fine-grained tannins on the palate, with some licorice on the finish. A well-structured wine with a healthy dose of fruit. Awesome young wine. With more air the wine really started to strut its stuff, evolving nose, very complex with some cinnamon and herbs rubbed on tree bark coming through. Without a doubt the most complex nose of the flight. Finished 2 points ahead of the 2017 Mount Brave Mt Veeder Cab Franc and 3 points ahead of 2016 Debate Stagecoach Cab Franc. My 1/6, the groups 1/6.
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4/21/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Funny to taste a super oaked acbernet franc.
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12/10/2020 - JessicaOurisman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Look: deep ruby
Smell: stone, sage, freeze-dried berry, #2 pencil
Taste: ripe mulberry, earthy root vegetable, dry but silky tannins
Makes a perfect first impression and only gets friendlier with a little breathing. A real winner!
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