This is what an excellent mature Napa Cabernet is all about. Cork so perfect it looks like 3 years old not 20. Medium color. Beautiful mouth feel. Dark chocolate and plum? nose. Earth and leathery on the palate. Nice spice laced finish with good length. Last bottle of this in my cellar but what a beauty.
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Decanted 5 hours. Drank in the 5-7 hour range. Very nice. Softer than the other wines we drank that night, but I'd put it in the elegant category. To me this is a wine to enjoy more among 2-3 people than a dinner party with 10 wines. Looking forward to my 04 and 07 magnums. Has time left, but I'd recommend drinking soon.
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Never had a Chappellett Pritchard Hill before. Bought a six pack at Zachys auction. Was a little leery due to 20 years of age. Because of that I got a great deal so I risked it and took the plunge. I won this gamble. One of the best bottles I’ve had all year. Fruit starting to fade a bit but still a nose of dark berries and mocha. Silky smoothed tannins. Prevalent leather, forest floor and lead on the palate. Nothing short of spectacular. You don’t see much of this around anymore for obvious reasons but if I can find a few more I’ll grab them after trying this. Still has life.
Lots of time left for this. Dark inky wine. Nice backbone with deep dark fruit. Long finish and beautiful nose of fruit and flowers. Definitely helped to decant. Edged out a 2007 Meander Morisoli and 1996 Beringer Reserve but bested by a 2004 Spottswoode. All really nice Xmas treats
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Excellent aged but still lively cab. Good acidity on the long finish keeps it fresh. Mostly red fruited with gentle tannins. Silky package. Good food wine. Would have scored even higher if more complexity existed.
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Wow, lost out to WOTN 2001 Merus, but would've won many other nights. Tannins present, but just enough to balance elegant mountain fruit notes and near perfect amount of oak, which appear to be in very early stages of fading. Some anise notes. But, this stuff was good and if you got it....enjoy it! Will pick up more on secondary market at right price!
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Good aromatics leading to a full-bodied mid palate of ripe earthy black currents & black berry. The rich ripe tannins and oak are well integrated and resolved ending in a long finish. Will likely hold for 2-3 years if properly stored.
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Put this one against a '97 BV Tapestry and a 2011 Caymus Special Select in a blind tasting. It held up well. Very similar profile to the BV. Not much fruit left. Drink up.
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A big style Napa cab - very fruit forward, with alcohol levels right on the edge. Holds it all together, though. Drinking very well right now. Doubt it will get better with age.
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(Dinner @ lucio's) nice typical Cali cab nose surprising with the age. Palate was that of black berries and currant. It was mello but wasn't humming on all cylinders and not sure that it wil. Would like to see where it is in 2 yrs
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Cali cab dinner at bourbon steak with dc wine dudes. 3 hour decant. A nose of stewed red fruit, velvety, and slightly sweet. On the palate, classic Cali currants, red fruits, and chocolate. Sill structured nicely with tannin and an acidic backbone. Velvety. Yum.
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1990s Cali Cabs and a 2008 Rivers-Marie Summa OV (Bourbon Steak DC): Current release price: $135. A beautiful wine. The nose is precise and intoxicating – dark, mountain blackberries, blueberries, black currant, and loam. The tertiary aromas are strong but elegant – sweet spices, seductive chocolate – and the wine has silky, well-integrated tannins. The wine is a bit hot at the very front and the very back, but it’s barely noticeable. I doubt it’ll get much better, but it will probably stay where it is for quite some time.
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Decanted for 3 hours before drinking. Mint and earth on the nose with subtle dark fruit on the palate. Tanins nicely integrated providing a wonderful mouthfeel. Accurately described by a friend at dinner as the tanins melting on your tongue. This is a beautiful bottle of wine.
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nose - graphite, licorice, smells like a priorat mouth - per brian anchovy in the mouth, and i agree it has an interesting savory quality followed by a borad plummy midpalate. Interesting salinity. Umami and big tannins. long finish. A big wine. Can last another decade.
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Extremely smooth and elegant. Tannins nicely integrated with dark fruit and crushed rocks. While this tasted like a nicely aged Napa Cab, was expecting even more from this wine, however, it was outstanding and went nicely with tenderloin and lamb.
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Oh yeah! This is big, full, rich, powerful California Cab, and its still drinking youthfully. Deep aromas of dark fruits, spice, fresh earth, mocha, and dill from the oak ageing. Nice mineral and acid backbone with chewy tannins and an elegant, lasting finish. Will continue to evolve for several more years and drink well for another decade if not longer. Amazing wine!
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Definitely delicious. Big black & blue mountain fruit, silky tannins, but a little hot on the backend... just a tad out of balance. Classic cali cab with some age on it.. not sure if its going anywhere, but not going downhill either.
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The Usual Suspects (with photos) (Fiddler's Green): Deep violet in the glass with minimal bricking at the rim. Scents of earth, campfire, dark fruits, blueberries, bloody meat, and duck fat make for a very interesting nose. Supported by firm tannins flavors of blackberries, blueberries, black cherry, cigar box, and chocolate come together nicely along a medium length finish. Surprisingly I did not notice the 14.5% alcohol.
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Dinner at home: First day: muted nose, deep color, concentrated flavors of fruit and oak, but the oak and tannins on the finish were overwhelming, almost bitter on the finish. Unbalanced and disjointed to my taste. 85 pts. Second day: the oak and tannins calmed down greatly. Now, much more balance and hints of tobacco and cedar emerge to go along with fruit. Hopefully, this is the future for this wine in years to come. 91pts.
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Opened for 3 hrs then decanted for an additional 1 hr prior to consumption. This is a deep young wine, with lots of fruit. A few more years will bring this into better balance, but it clearly has the capacity to go another 5+ years to be within a peak range. Tasty today in a young calicab style, should evolve nicely into a more mature offering. But not worth the $$ IMO.
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Very dark ruby. Dense & concentrated. Blackberries, currant, w/ hints of tobacco & vanilla. Tannins should mellow with time. Very good structure. Should age beautifully. 50+5+12+17+8=92.
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1/14/2023 - RYANDOC Likes this wine: 97 Points
After 2 hours of decanting, and this bad boy was amazing!
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5/19/2021 - Alfaro wrote: 96 Points
Exceptional
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12/31/2020 - BostonSteve wrote: 96 Points
This is what an excellent mature Napa Cabernet is all about. Cork so perfect it looks like 3 years old not 20. Medium color. Beautiful mouth feel. Dark chocolate and plum? nose. Earth and leathery on the palate. Nice spice laced finish with good length. Last bottle of this in my cellar but what a beauty.
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12/29/2019 - sfbikeguy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 5 hours. Drank in the 5-7 hour range. Very nice. Softer than the other wines we drank that night, but I'd put it in the elegant category. To me this is a wine to enjoy more among 2-3 people than a dinner party with 10 wines. Looking forward to my 04 and 07 magnums. Has time left, but I'd recommend drinking soon.
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7/11/2019 - BostonSteve wrote: 97 Points
Never had a Chappellett Pritchard Hill before. Bought a six pack at Zachys auction. Was a little leery due to 20 years of age. Because of that I got a great deal so I risked it and took the plunge. I won this gamble. One of the best bottles I’ve had all year. Fruit starting to fade a bit but still a nose of dark berries and mocha. Silky smoothed tannins. Prevalent leather, forest floor and lead on the palate. Nothing short of spectacular. You don’t see much of this around anymore for obvious reasons but if I can find a few more I’ll grab them after trying this. Still has life.
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12/26/2016 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lots of time left for this. Dark inky wine. Nice backbone with deep dark fruit. Long finish and beautiful nose of fruit and flowers. Definitely helped to decant. Edged out a 2007 Meander Morisoli and 1996 Beringer Reserve but bested by a 2004 Spottswoode. All really nice Xmas treats
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7/17/2016 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent aged but still lively cab. Good acidity on the long finish keeps it fresh. Mostly red fruited with gentle tannins. Silky package. Good food wine. Would have scored even higher if more complexity existed.
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1/22/2016 - Geaux Tigers Likes this wine: 94 Points
Wow, lost out to WOTN 2001 Merus, but would've won many other nights. Tannins present, but just enough to balance elegant mountain fruit notes and near perfect amount of oak, which appear to be in very early stages of fading. Some anise notes. But, this stuff was good and if you got it....enjoy it! Will pick up more on secondary market at right price!
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8/30/2015 - dmellinger wrote: 97 Points
Simply superb
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3/15/2015 - MoreWinePlease Likes this wine: 94 Points
Good aromatics leading to a full-bodied mid palate of ripe earthy black currents & black berry. The rich ripe tannins and oak are well integrated and resolved ending in a long finish. Will likely hold for 2-3 years if properly stored.
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11/29/2014 - TSTEW22 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Put this one against a '97 BV Tapestry and a 2011 Caymus Special Select in a blind tasting. It held up well. Very similar profile to the BV. Not much fruit left. Drink up.
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11/21/2014 - FLI Likes this wine: 92 Points
A big style Napa cab - very fruit forward, with alcohol levels right on the edge. Holds it all together, though. Drinking very well right now. Doubt it will get better with age.
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5/4/2013 - Tuskeny Raider Likes this wine: 92 Points
(Dinner @ lucio's) nice typical Cali cab nose surprising with the age. Palate was that of black berries and currant. It was mello but wasn't humming on all cylinders and not sure that it wil. Would like to see where it is in 2 yrs
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1/19/2012 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 93 Points
Cali cab dinner at bourbon steak with dc wine dudes. 3 hour decant. A nose of stewed red fruit, velvety, and slightly sweet. On the palate, classic Cali currants, red fruits, and chocolate. Sill structured nicely with tannin and an acidic backbone. Velvety. Yum.
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1/16/2012 - davidwhitedc wrote: 93 Points
1990s Cali Cabs and a 2008 Rivers-Marie Summa OV (Bourbon Steak DC): Current release price: $135. A beautiful wine. The nose is precise and intoxicating – dark, mountain blackberries, blueberries, black currant, and loam. The tertiary aromas are strong but elegant – sweet spices, seductive chocolate – and the wine has silky, well-integrated tannins. The wine is a bit hot at the very front and the very back, but it’s barely noticeable. I doubt it’ll get much better, but it will probably stay where it is for quite some time.
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12/28/2011 - JohnW3 wrote: 94 Points
Second bottle of the night for dinner with seven. No one could get enough. Same notes as prior bottle.
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12/28/2011 - JohnW3 wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 3 hours before drinking. Mint and earth on the nose with subtle dark fruit on the palate. Tanins nicely integrated providing a wonderful mouthfeel. Accurately described by a friend at dinner as the tanins melting on your tongue. This is a beautiful bottle of wine.
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10/6/2011 - soyhead wrote: 94 Points
nose - graphite, licorice, smells like a priorat
mouth - per brian anchovy in the mouth, and i agree it has an interesting savory quality followed by a borad plummy midpalate. Interesting salinity. Umami and big tannins. long finish. A big wine. Can last another decade.
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8/20/2011 - Schiffy wrote: 93 Points
Extremely smooth and elegant. Tannins nicely integrated with dark fruit and crushed rocks. While this tasted like a nicely aged Napa Cab, was expecting even more from this wine, however, it was outstanding and went nicely with tenderloin and lamb.
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12/5/2010 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 93 Points
Showed very well compared to hartwell stags leap, dominus, and insignia. Big fruits from Pritchard hill here, and very delicious!
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11/6/2010 - Outplaying wrote:
Getting together with friends (Our House, Avondale, PA): Some earth, mint, black fruits. There are some nice tannins. I thought this could have been old world cab or cab franc. Very enjoyable. Has some life left.
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6/29/2010 - clericjohnbrown wrote: 98 Points
Oh yeah! This is big, full, rich, powerful California Cab, and its still drinking youthfully. Deep aromas of dark fruits, spice, fresh earth, mocha, and dill from the oak ageing. Nice mineral and acid backbone with chewy tannins and an elegant, lasting finish. Will continue to evolve for several more years and drink well for another decade if not longer. Amazing wine!
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6/26/2010 - jdabrowski1027 wrote: 92 Points
Definitely delicious. Big black & blue mountain fruit, silky tannins, but a little hot on the backend... just a tad out of balance. Classic cali cab with some age on it.. not sure if its going anywhere, but not going downhill either.
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2/6/2010 - Kirk Grant wrote: 90 Points
The Usual Suspects (with photos) (Fiddler's Green): Deep violet in the glass with minimal bricking at the rim. Scents of earth, campfire, dark fruits, blueberries, bloody meat, and duck fat make for a very interesting nose. Supported by firm tannins flavors of blackberries, blueberries, black cherry, cigar box, and chocolate come together nicely along a medium length finish. Surprisingly I did not notice the 14.5% alcohol.
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12/25/2009 - pozzo wrote: 88 Points
Very oaky upon opening. After a couple of hours decant, the oak was no longer overwhelming. Very little fruit , disappointing.
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3/30/2007 - The Wine Guy wrote: 91 Points
dark ruby, full body with long finish tanins, currant, blackberry, enjoyable to the last glass.
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1/28/2006 - Cilantro wrote: 88 Points
Dinner at home: First day: muted nose, deep color, concentrated flavors of fruit and oak, but the oak and tannins on the finish were overwhelming, almost bitter on the finish. Unbalanced and disjointed to my taste. 85 pts.
Second day: the oak and tannins calmed down greatly. Now, much more balance and hints of tobacco and cedar emerge to go along with fruit. Hopefully, this is the future for this wine in years to come. 91pts.
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12/30/2005 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Opened for 3 hrs then decanted for an additional 1 hr prior to consumption. This is a deep young wine, with lots of fruit. A few more years will bring this into better balance, but it clearly has the capacity to go another 5+ years to be within a peak range. Tasty today in a young calicab style, should evolve nicely into a more mature offering. But not worth the $$ IMO.
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10/23/2003 - rmcnees wrote: 90 Points
Blackberry plum currant and toasty spicy oak.
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1/25/2003 - blocsin wrote: 92 Points
Very dark ruby. Dense & concentrated. Blackberries, currant, w/ hints of tobacco & vanilla. Tannins should mellow with time. Very good structure. Should age beautifully. 50+5+12+17+8=92.
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