Chappellet "Pritchard Hill" Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

98 Points Tasting Panel

This year is a milestone for Chappellet: It’s the 50th anniversary vintage from Pritchard Hill as well as the 20th vintage of Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine personifies the beauty of mountain fruit grown on steep, well-drained, rocky slopes; the low yields exhibit a remarkable concentration of fruit and, no doubt, the ability to age for years to come. With 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec blended in, the wine aged 22 months in 100% new French oak. It performs a slow dance, its beauty, elegance, and structure evolving with each sip. The saturation of blue and black fruit and the presence of lilac, mulberry, dates, and spiced sandalwood are inspiring. Deep notes of coffee and chocolate wash over the finish.