We blind tasted Chappellet with three other great Cab Franc’s. (Morlet, Darioush, Larkin). They were all captivating. (94, 94, 95). This is a full bodied masterpiece. On the pallet, Dark berries and cherries. Nice but restrained earthiness. FYI it is available on wine searcher. The group of 6 tasters choose Larkin and Chappellet was second. Larkin $75.00 Chappellet $99.00 Morlet $250.00 Darioush $95.00
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Opened for the Chappellet Hideaway tasting on 4/17 because I didn’t want to touch the ‘16 Hideaway just yet.
Correct decision rewarded!
2 hr decant and this was singing. Dark colored beauty with bricked colored edges, but no appearance of bricking at this early stage. No usual green notes here that one sometimes finds in Napa CF.. No apparent oak, tannins integrating. Lovely floral and perfumed nose with charred earth and a touch of blueberry liquer. Blue fruit palate with a touch of black fruit, no red fruit anywhere to be found. Much better than my earlier bottle, QPR is off the charts! Cab Franc done right!
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Gotta love Vic for bringing the least expected wine of the night. Big oak nose, blueberry and coffee, fairly concentrated with some extract. 14.9% alcohol, too. Those don't usually add up what I like and expect from CF, but this is Napa CF and a different animal--hard not to be impressed.
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Excellent recommendation from the sommelier. Needs a few years to reach super outstanding but nonetheless an excellent bottle. After it aired out a bit it was smoother than I would have expected. Loved the spice and the dark berries. Tannins were medium and the finish was medium length. It paired very well with my chicken and wife’s NY strip. Wonderful cab franc. So good we ordered a second bottle.
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Decanted and drank over several hours. At 90 min, not giving up much, smells like coffee with dried unsweetened cranberry (Malbec dominating), still somewhat tannic, can feel the oak. At 2.5 hrs started to smooth the rough edges. Bitter chocolate and dark fruits, faint saline, and on the palate sweeter red fruits beginning to emerge, tannins becoming fine oak becoming complimentary. Structured and powerful, definitely 2013. CS and CF have come out to play. At 3.5 hrs, this infant was gone, the Malbec really started to dominate and the wine became a little linear. With time this should integrate with a little upside into 94+ range. This was a great ride. The babies will slumber for a couple of years 2020+.
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One of the best cab francs from CA that I've ever had. Red and black fruits, some savory spices and really nice tannins. 14.9% but was balanced with lots of structure. Even better on day 2.
Deep garnet colour. The nose shows pronounced intensity aromas of ripe dark plums, dark cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, walnut and hints of black pepper.
It is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has high fine-grained tannins and a high alcohol. It is full-bodied with pronounced intensity flavours. The finish is long.
It is and outstanding quality wine. It shows complexity provided by oak ageing, the finish is very persistent and it has very concentrated flavours that balance the high alcohol and firm tannic structure.
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12/23/2023 - alden.vansolkema Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic and lively.
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12/15/2023 - JackCMac Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good with lamb shank
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6/13/2023 - rougeamore Likes this wine: 93 Points
Recall dark fruit, licorice, and leather on the nose and palate. This is an excellent wine.
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12/15/2022 - MichielV wrote: 91 Points
W duck at Rudy & Jenny. Superb combination. Still great color / nose. Great medium weight on the palate and nice finish. Very good wine!!
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3/7/2022 - tc from santee Likes this wine: 93 Points
We blind tasted Chappellet with three other great Cab Franc’s. (Morlet, Darioush, Larkin). They were all captivating. (94, 94, 95). This is a full bodied masterpiece. On the pallet, Dark berries and cherries. Nice but restrained earthiness. FYI it is available on wine searcher. The group of 6 tasters choose Larkin and Chappellet was second.
Larkin $75.00
Chappellet $99.00
Morlet $250.00
Darioush $95.00
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2/4/2022 - GFWeaver Likes this wine: 90 Points
Aahhh, PHEV.
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3/9/2021 - oenophilemoose wrote: 94 Points
Briefly decanted. Wonderfully rich, dense and dark fruit accompanied by a finish that goes on for infinity.
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1/27/2021 - Coachron13 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Has really come into its own. Has smoothed out, dark fruit is still dominant but in a better place than when it was younger.
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4/17/2020 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 95 Points
Opened for the Chappellet Hideaway tasting on 4/17 because I didn’t want to touch the ‘16 Hideaway just yet.
Correct decision rewarded!
2 hr decant and this was singing. Dark colored beauty with bricked colored edges, but no appearance of bricking at this early stage. No usual green notes here that one sometimes finds in Napa CF.. No apparent oak, tannins integrating. Lovely floral and perfumed nose with charred earth and a touch of blueberry liquer. Blue fruit palate with a touch of black fruit, no red fruit anywhere to be found. Much better than my earlier bottle, QPR is off the charts! Cab Franc done right!
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4/6/2019 - pvewino Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great wine, but watch out for the strong tannins. You may feel this one the next day.
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7/15/2018 - ivsimler Likes this wine: 92 Points
Seriously...just a great wine. A hint of "dankness" that I think is what a good cabernet franc has.
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5/22/2018 - Neecies wrote:
Gotta love Vic for bringing the least expected wine of the night. Big oak nose, blueberry and coffee, fairly concentrated with some extract. 14.9% alcohol, too. Those don't usually add up what I like and expect from CF, but this is Napa CF and a different animal--hard not to be impressed.
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2/23/2018 - nzinkgraf wrote:
76% Cabernet Franc, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Malbec, 6% Merlot, 22m in French. Aromatic black fruit aromas. Concentrated palate.
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1/27/2018 - seanman Likes this wine:
Excellent recommendation from the sommelier. Needs a few years to reach super outstanding but nonetheless an excellent bottle. After it aired out a bit it was smoother than I would have expected. Loved the spice and the dark berries. Tannins were medium and the finish was medium length. It paired very well with my chicken and wife’s NY strip. Wonderful cab franc. So good we ordered a second bottle.
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5/29/2017 - Coachron13 wrote:
Way, way too young to drink now. Has an edge to it that needs a lot of time to smooth out. Can see the potential, but suggest waiting a few years.
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5/7/2017 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted and drank over several hours. At 90 min, not giving up much, smells like coffee with dried unsweetened cranberry (Malbec dominating), still somewhat tannic, can feel the oak. At 2.5 hrs started to smooth the rough edges. Bitter chocolate and dark fruits, faint saline, and on the palate sweeter red fruits beginning to emerge, tannins becoming fine oak becoming complimentary. Structured and powerful, definitely 2013. CS and CF have come out to play. At 3.5 hrs, this infant was gone, the Malbec really started to dominate and the wine became a little linear. With time this should integrate with a little upside into 94+ range. This was a great ride. The babies will slumber for a couple of years 2020+.
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3/1/2017 - Eliz. Bishop Likes this wine: 92 Points
One of the best cab francs from CA that I've ever had. Red and black fruits, some savory spices and really nice tannins. 14.9% but was balanced with lots of structure. Even better on day 2.
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2/26/2017 - mgstull Likes this wine: 90 Points
2 hours of air which was needed. Black fruit with plum and spice notes. Fine grained tannins. Will benefits from additional aging.
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1/14/2017 - wine4lux Likes this wine: 90 Points
Needs more time; green pepper and alcohol are a bit too prominent now.
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12/7/2016 - Man in Black wrote:
Deep garnet colour. The nose shows pronounced intensity aromas of ripe dark plums, dark cherries, vanilla, cinnamon, walnut and hints of black pepper.
It is dry in the mouth with a medium acidity. It has high fine-grained tannins and a high alcohol. It is full-bodied with pronounced intensity flavours. The finish is long.
It is and outstanding quality wine. It shows complexity provided by oak ageing, the finish is very persistent and it has very concentrated flavours that balance the high alcohol and firm tannic structure.
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10/18/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Franc and really good franc.
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10/2/2016 - pvewino Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better the second day. Give this one some more time to open up.
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2/19/2016 - jmasterj Likes this wine:
Big and hefty for a middleweight. Everything you expect from Chappellet. Still needs lots of time. Spices and dark fruit.
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