Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Chapellet Mountain Cuvée Proprietor’s Blend 2023
Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A vibrant Bordeaux-style blend from Chapellet, a pioneering family-owned estate high on Pritchard Hill since 1967. Known for its rocky, elevated vineyards and bold mountain-grown fruit, Chapellet crafts this approachable yet terroir-rich blend for both immediate enjoyment and graceful aging.

Blend Composition
• 51% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 24% Merlot
• 10% Petit Verdot
• 8% Malbec
• 7% Cabernet Franc 

Aromas & Flavors
Effusively aromatic with dark cherries, blackberries, and plums, framed by spicy oak notes of clove, cardamom, cedar, plus touches of black pepper and savory herbs. The palate mirrors this with plush ripe berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins, and finishes with lingering dark chocolate and anise.  

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied with a luxuriously textured core. The fine-grained tannins wrap the fruit beautifully, balanced by inherent freshness—creating a long, silky, and satisfying finish.  

Winemaking Notes
Crafted under the guidance of Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus, the 2023 vintage benefitted from a cool growing season and carefully managed canopy work to preserve freshness and reduce yields. Fermented and aged to deliver immediate appeal without compromising structure. 

Food Pairing
A versatile pairing wine—ideal with grilled ribeye, slow-braised short ribs, or herbed lamb chops. It also complements rich pasta sauces and grilled mushrooms—luxurious yet approachable.

Verdict
Mountain Cuvée 2023 is a powerful yet elegant Napa blend, showcasing depth, freshness, and mountain intensity. It’s a beautifully balanced wine that offers a compelling mix of immediate pleasure and layered complexity. A benchmark for mountain-grown Bordeaux blends. — a month ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.1

The estate cuvee here... On the nose, paraffin wax and honeydew melon... On the palate, this gets into gooseberry and white peach. The finish is long white pepper. Quite nice and between this and the Reserve, among the best matches around for BC salmon in the summertime. — 4 years ago

Colin Parker

9.4

Raspberry, bold, complex — 4 years ago

with Dana

Norman

9.4

Who says Merlot can not age. This is delightful. I would say there is just a hint of browning at the edges but this is a big glass and if I had, had this with mom at the restaurant instead of the Tor - you never would have seen it. It is rich and full on the palate. Finish is long. I think the nose is a bit muted but given its age super nice — 3 months ago

Stuart Pollack

8.9

Good but not remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon. Perfectly smooth but not much complexity. Just a straightforward Cabernet Sauvignon and not flawed. — a year ago

Tom Garland

9.0

Very yummy Mediterranean family style lunch from Ashes & Diamonds chef, wines are restrained and just OK... nice pours with the lunch though!!!!

2018 semillion-savignon blanc
2017 cab franc
2018 red hen cab sav
2018 bates ranch mountain cuvee
2017 mountain peak cab sav
2017 estate merlot — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Traci

9.4

💪👍 She's so lovelyyy. Sweet, smooth, robust. — 5 months ago

Rani Yadav

9.3

Great red - had with Anaita Pete and Shireen after magic show — 6 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

Needs at least an hour of air. Not a pop and pour !!!

Nose is elegant blackberry flower. Gorgeous graphite. Very cornassy. An ephemeral elegance about it.

Palate is elite elegant blackberry. Pencil lead. So juicy and fresh. Mountain stream. Elegant grip.

Fail on my part for drinking this with not enough air. It’s a serious wine. Ignore the price. Oops. 1er cru quality. $100 blind.

Bought from fass selections. — 4 years ago

Matthew Cohen

9.4

Ha hahahahhahahahahhahahahaaaaa! Can’t believe this is $30 Bourgogne blanc.

Nose is mineral and some iodine. Some richness.

Palate is clean and mineral. Some rich green apple. Clean as a mountain stream.

Wow.

Bought from fass selections. — 4 years ago