Chappellet Merlot 2015 Front Bottle Shot
Chappellet Merlot 2015 Front Bottle Shot Chappellet Merlot 2015 Front Label

Winemaker Notes

From its enticing aromas of black tea, cherry, cedar and smoke to it silky richness and long, complex finish, this wine shows why we love mountaingrown Merlot. On the palate, a core of black cherry is encircled by layers of dark chocolate, currant, cassis and graphite, as well as oak-inspired hints of vanilla, clove and spice.

Professional Ratings

  • 90
    Blended with 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot, this is a thick and concentrated showing of the variety, plush and lushly spicy in clove and cinnamon. The fruit is plummy and rich in dark cherry, toasted oak and vanilla tea.
Chappellet Winery

Chappellet Winery

View all products
Chappellet Winery, undefined
Chappellet Winery Watch Chappellet's Amazing Story Winery Video
For more than four decades, the Chappellet family has been crafting world-class wines from fruit cultivated on the steep, rocky slopes of Napa Valley's renowned Pritchard Hill. As one of the first wineries to pioneer high-elevation hillside planting, and one of the few remaining great family-owned Napa Valley wineries, Chappellet Vineyard and Winery has influenced generations of vintners. Throughout its history, Chappellet has also established an enduring legacy as one of California's most acclaimed producers of Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Chappellets' romance with Pritchard Hill began when Donn and Molly Chappellet first glimpsed the mountain's spectacular vistas in the late 1960s. Inspired by the notion that Bacchus loves the hills, Donn and Molly followed the advice of legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff and settled on the rocky eastern slopes of the Napa Valley. There, on the mountain’s serene and picturesque hillsides, the Chappellets established their home and winery, raising their children and cultivating the vineyards.

Since being founded by Donn and Molly in 1967, Chappellet has earned acclaim championing the robust power and complexity of wines crafted from mountain grapes. At the same time, Chappellet has helped to establish Pritchard Hill as one of California’s most revered winegrowing sites. To honor the mountain's rich, expressive character, the winemaking team focuses on creating extraordinary, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignons that embody the intensity and finesse of fruit from Pritchard Hill.

Image for  content section
View all products
Image for Napa Valley Merlot content section
View all products

As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.

Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.

CHMCPL3401015_2015 Item# 508589