2021 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee, Napa Valley, California (750ml)   

 
Chappellet's blend for this very reliable bottling this vintage is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc. This alluring Bordeaux-varietal blend displays concentrated aromas of red currant, cassis, sage, cedar and graphite, as well as hints of sweet oak and roasted coffee. On the palate the tannins are seamless and balanced, underscoring the depth and charm of the beautiful red and black fruit flavors as they glide to an elegant finish with lingering flavors of ripe berries, earth and spice.

Producer notes ~ "Blended from the traditional Bordeaux varietals, including our own coveted grapes, the Chappellet Mountain Cuvee Proprietor’s Blend builds on our five decades of experience crafting great Napa County mountain-grown wines. Each component varietal in the cuvée contributes nuances that complement each other. The result is a complex array of aromas and flavors that deliver pure pleasure in a glass. Made for more near-term enjoyment, this is the wine to choose when you’re looking for vivid, mouthfilling fruit flavors. The 2020 growing season began with a very dry winter, and while we benefitted from enough early spring rain to properly saturate the soils, the overall lack of precipitation limited canopy growth and led to an ideal fruit set with small clusters of highly concentrated berries. Summer brought temperate weather with no significant heat events, ensuring that the grapes were able to ripen slowly and uniformly. As a result, our wines from the 2020 vintage are vibrant and complex, with impeccable structures, alluring aromas and pure, focused varietal flavors."