June 30, 2023 - At seventeen years of age, this was consistent with, but better than my previous tasting of this wine back in 2011 as the wine has developed in the bottle aging for another decade, "Dark inky purple color - medium-full bodied, complex and concentrated blackberry and black raspberry fruits in a tightly wound core accented by spicy oak on a balanced structured tannin finish."
It's complexity seems to be improved with featured highlights of currant fruits and anise with notes of tobacco, dark mocha chocolate, and hints of cedar on the long finish.
Tonight I rated this 93 points, vs the 92 points from my earlier review.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2023/06/chappellet-signature-napa-valley.html
February 3, 2023 - This wine is still going strong, possible still on the early side. But with some air it does open very nicely, giving up it's savory dark fruit, and hint of something green. Acidity is solid providing a really balanced wine. Fantastic wine with 5+ years left.
December 15, 2021 - From double magnum. Smell older than it tastes. Fig and black cherry nose, not penetrating. Wonderfully balanced with soft but dense anise and cherry fruit. Even in this format, drink over the next 3-5 years to avoid fruit falling over the edge.
October 24, 2021 - Definitely NOT past its prime. This was a splendid, complex, structured wine.
October 12, 2021 - Ca. CS (Mu & Mu restaurant, Rehovot): excellent, mature, complex, balanced - drink now
July 24, 2021 - Really nice nose of dark berry, cassis, licorice, violets and cedar. Soft sweet tannins but still very big and rich fruit (too much?). Drank beautifully with a steak but a touch out of balance. long finish. Drink now and decant for an hour+
March 28, 2021 - Rich and full, with a hint of tertiary nuances. Fully ready to drink, I would drink this sooner than later.
July 15, 2020 - Decanted only to warm from cellar temp as was open right away. 2006, along with 2001, has been one of my favorite vintages for Napa as I've found them well balanced and age worthy, vs the fruit forward disappointing agers from 2002 and 2007. This wine displayed a combination of dark red fruit, plum and blackberry, with resolved tannins, medium minus acidity, and lovely balance and mouthfeel. This has aged quite nicely and really like where it is now. I wouldn't risk going too much longer with this as you may miss the sweet spot.
May 16, 2020 - Drank beautifully. Perfectly balanced and vibrant.
April 15, 2020 - The cork had dried out so removing it required the two pronged wine cork. I decanted it for about 20 minutes and it was as wonderful as I remembered 10 years ago when I first had the wine. Well balanced with minimal tannins, smooth. Cherry/plum fruit delightful!