Winemaker Notes
One of Chappellet's finest Chenin Blancs in memory, this unique mountain-grown wine draws you in with lively and luxurious aromas of Meyer lemon, quince, pineapple, and nectarine, as well as hints of tropical flowers, honey, clove, and fresh-cut hay. On the palate it is crisp, elegant, and impeccably balanced, with refreshing acidity and sophisticated minerality underscoring alluring flavors of apricot, orange zest and honeydew melon.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
The rarity of mountain-grown Chenin Blanc in Napa Valley and on prestigious Pritchard Hill, no less-lends esteem to this wondrous white, and its Molly Chappellet signature offers even more cachet. Fermented in a combination of neutral French oak and stainless steel, it speaks of peach blossom rising out of wet stone as it evolves in texture and style: Lanolin on linen and lychee on lentil charm within a lithe frame.
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Wine Enthusiast
Mouthwatering with a silky texture, this wine delivers flavors of ripe stone fruits accompanied by accents of tropical fruits and pears, with a long line of refreshing minerality. The wine has tons of persistence, but is also full of flavor and depth. Attractive and delicious, it will do well with a meal.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2023 Chappellet Signature Chenin Blanc is a significant wine. I knew this wine was exceptional when I tried the 1973 vintage around 1975 (I haven't located my original notes). The 2022 Chappellet Signature Chenin Blanc is outstanding and unique. TASTING NOTES: This wine excels with aromas and flavors of fragrant flowers, dried leaves, ripe apples, and stone fruits. Pair it with Cantonese-style crab in ginger and onion noodles. (Tasted: May 3, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Chappellet's 2023 Chenin Blanc Signature was picked a month later than normal but under perfect conditions. The nose offers hints of honeyed peach, lime and pineapple, plus subtle floral nuances, while the medium-bodied palate is creamy, ripe and plush, then long and lime-riddled on the finish. Chenin Blanc is having a bit of a resurgence in Napa, and Chappellet has produced a top-flight example for decades.
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.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.
The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. White wines from Napa Valley are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that claim specific wine characteristics based on situation, slope and soil. Farthest south and coolest from the influence of the San Pablo Bay is Carneros, followed by Coombsville to its northeast and then Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Above those are the warm St. Helena and the valley's newest and hottest AVA, Calistoga. These areas follow the valley floor and are known generally for creating rich, dense, complex and smooth red wines with good aging potential. The mountain sub appellations, nestled on the slopes overlooking the valley AVAs, include Stags Leap District, Atlas Peak, Chiles Valley (farther east), Howell Mountain, Mt. Veeder, Spring Mountain District and Diamond Mountain District. Napa Valley wines from the mountain regions are often more structured and firm, benefiting from a lot of time in the bottle to evolve and soften.