Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Chappellet – Signature Chenin Blanc – 2024 🇺🇸
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley AVA – California, USA

Overview
An exceptional and expressive Chenin Blanc from the iconic slopes of Pritchard Hill. Crafted by winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, this small-production white showcases the precision and elegance that Chappellet is known for.
Molly Chappellet’s signature featured on the label, along with the distinct bottle silhouette, reflects her refined aesthetic and the wine’s singular personality.

Aromas & Flavors
A vibrant aromatic spectrum: lemon, fresh pineapple, nectarine, and tropical white flowers. Subtle French-oak influence reveals whispers of nutmeg, vanilla, and lightly toasted spice without overshadowing the fruit purity.

Mouthfeel
Bright and lively with toned acidity that keeps the wine energetic. Layers of citrus, lychee, and stone fruit unfold across the palate, finishing with candied lemon zest, mineral lift, and a refreshing, persistent length.

Food Pairings
Perfect with grilled halibut, lemon-herb chicken, shrimp scampi, soft goat cheese, or spring vegetable risotto. Its acidity and texture make it incredibly versatile at the table.

Verdict
A stunning, beautifully composed Chenin Blanc that highlights Napa Valley’s ability to produce world-class whites beyond Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Elegant, complex, and irresistibly fresh, a wine that captivates from first aroma to final sip.

Did You Know?
Chenin Blanc was once widely planted in Napa Valley in the 1960s–70s. Chappellet is one of the rare estates preserving and elevating this noble Loire variety on premium hillside terroir.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A uniquely compelling white that impressed me from the first whiff, polished, aromatic, and brimming with personality. One of the most memorable Chenin Blanc expressions coming out of California today. Cheers! — 3 months ago

David Walser

9.5

Third wine at the meet the meat event. Now this is a MEAT wine. Well aged and ready to drink. — 5 years ago

Rob N

9.2

I quite enjoyed this wine, but difficult following up after an Opus One! — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Pale reddish in color. Pretty color.

Fruity nose and medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with mild complexity.

Showing raspberries, cherries, red currants, earth, light chocolate notes and spices.

Tangy finish with soft tannins.

This is a very tasty Grenache blend from Columbia Valley. Elegant and nicely balanced with a soft mouthfeel. Feels like a Southern Rhone red.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 77% Grenache, 13% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. Aged in used French oak barrels for 21 months.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$48. — 6 months ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

I had the pleasure par taking in this 2014 Margaux du Chateau Margaux. This is the third lable from Chateau Margaux a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.

On the nose were beautiful perfume notes, black cherry, blackberry, black plum, black currant, spice, cassis, light herbaceous note, lilacs and earth.

On the palate there is black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, light oak, spice, cassis, graphite and earth.

This wine is medium bodied with a smooth velvety mouthfeel medium + acidity and medium + fine grippy tannins that leaves you with a long dark fruit graphite finish. The week looks great ahead maintaining a level mind and cool head. Stay healthy and safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This is the third time that I’ve had the pleasure of drinking the 2005 Caravina over the last year and it continues to be a stunner. It pours a dark garnet with no color variation however, this bottle was throwing an enormous amount of sediment. The bouquet is powerful with a lovely mix of dark fruits; currants and plums with sweet pipe tobacco, leather, and mushrooms. The palate is decadent with a very forward attack and layer upon layer of fruits, baking spices and earthier secondary characteristics. Finish is dry, long and super satisfying. Impeccable balance. Would be a deft pairing for most hearty meals but a winner on its own. I have to believe these are drinking at or near peak but if this bottle (and the previous two for that matter) is representative, that peak may last for many years to come. Hard to believe this isn’t their Grand Vin. — 5 years ago

Ericsson

9.3

Third growth? Or third treasure! If you can hold out. — 9 months ago

Ganesh

9.7

Worth the aging — 9 months ago

Vasanth Balakrishnan

9.2

#sauternes so sweet and balanced. Third of three bottles for my wife’s 40th birthday. We saved the best for last, as it turns out. Honeyed layers as this gently warms in a Burgundy bowl - caramel, marzipan, toasted almonds, some petrol, apricot jam. Tastes exactly how it smells with the acidity taking a step back from the honey sweetness swirling around a luscious oily mouthfeel. Touch of orange pith bitterness on the finish - lovely wine. Indeed it pairs well with Indian food but the force of this wine could have easily matched even spicier dishes. Beautiful wine and what’s amazing is it seemed this wine could easily go another 20 years. Good Sauternes is ever youthful. — 4 years ago

Norman

9.5

Hard not to love — 5 years ago