Winemaker Notes
A classic expression of hillside Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this luxurious wine displays concentrated aromas of ripe black cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate, along with oak-inspired notes of espresso, cinnamon, clove and cigar box. On the supple, mouth-filling palate, elegantly refined tannins underscore the rich dark berry and blackcurrant flavors, with hints of nutmeg, anise, and cedar adding sophistication to the long, voluptuous finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon is beautiful and complete wine from start to finish. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with excellent aromas and flavors of black fruit, berries, and accents of oak. Enjoy it with a panko-breaded, grilled pork chop top with savory seasonings. (Tasted: May 23, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
The larger production cuvée is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature, which checks in as 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 % Petit Verdot, and the balance Malbec. This cuvée is normally relatively easy to find in the market and it's always a good value. The 2017 doesn't break that trend, offering up loads of black and blue fruits intermixed with lots of mountain scrub brush, crushed rocks, cedary herbs, and earth. It's medium to full-bodied, nicely textured, has considerable elegance, and a great finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Signature reveals intense notes of warm cassis, preserved plums and Black Forest cake plus hints of garrigue, cedar chest and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is delicately styled with fresh, energetic black fruits and a light chew of tannins, finishing earthy.
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.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.