90pts Wine Spectator

This taut and juicy version's refreshing acidity highlights details of orange blossoms, lemon meringue and fresh-cut apple, along with hints of yuzu and lemon verbena. A note of salted butter shortbread lingers. Drink now. 1,200 cases made.

Winemaker Notes

Balancing lovely textural richness with finely tuned acidity, this radiant Chardonnay displays aromas of apricot, tropical flowers, lemon zest and lychee, with hints of crème fraiche, melted butter and baking spices adding depth and complexity to the fruit-driven aromas. On the palate, a lush, creamy texture frames the ripe citrus flavors, with subtle layers of French oak and baking spices lingering on the long, silky finish.

Winery Notes

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.