Wine Label:
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Winemaker's Notes:
The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon has been our flagship wine for more than four decades. It is a benchmark for the long-lived hillside wines of the Napa Valley; full of structure and aging potential, yet seductively forward in its concentrated varietal character. The dry, rocky soils of Pritchard Hill produce small, intensely flavorful grapes. Crop thinning allows for full, even ripening and further elevates flavor complexity.
Though 2010 was one of the coldest years in the history of Chappellet, our experience from four decades of farming in Napa Valley paid great divi- dends. We aggressively thinned early in the season, doing as many as two to three fruit drops in all parts of the vineyard. Judicious canopy management combined with our ideal north-south row orientations allowed us to avoid burning during a significant August heat event. The weather in October was perfect, and though the harvest was compact, everything came in before the rains, with the grapes showing exceptional color and richness, good acidity and excellent flavor development. Reviews Wine Advocate 92 Points
The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature is a dark, mysterious beauty endowed with considerable depth and richness. Mocha, chocolate, spices and plums fuse together gracefully as this soft, supple wine takes shape in the glass. I very much like the immediacy of the 2010. Only a little bit of persistence is missing on the finish, but not enough to materially detract from what is a gorgeous bottle of wine. For Napa Valley standards, this is about as good as it gets for the money. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.-AG |
