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
Quite light lemon yellow , quite difficult to judge the perlage in this glass but apparently fine and persistent, though on the palate the bubbles are quite discreet in nature . On the nose this is quite aromatic and rich with toasted lemon sherbet , sea shell , camomile and some buttered brioche . On the palate this also shows good richness and density , with more of the lemon peel , chalky , oyster shell character , with some buttered brioche notes on the finish . This is quite intense and long on the palate , though the perlage does subside quite a lot it is integrated. Fresh chalky acidity. Very much shows like a grand cru white Burgundy with bubbles. Still quite youthful and fresh but showing well , energetic but focused . From now and over the next 10 or so years . — 11 days ago
There is a vibrancy you noticed right away with a fine bead of bubbles. It is quite youthful and a few years of aging will help the wine meld together a bit better. Drink it now if you need to as it won’t disappoint. — 10 days ago
Not as bad as I remember it. It’s been a while though.
Slightly, bruised pear & red & green apple, lime zest, lemon pulp, some ginger white spice w/ a touch of heat, limestone mixed in volcanic minerals, crisp chalkiness, sea spray, yeasty bread dough, yellow & white spring flowers, lively acidity and a balanced & nicely polished elegant finish that last 45 seconds and lands on volcanics.
Emirates SFO. — 9 days ago
Pale straw color with green edges and aromas of citrus and tropical fruits adding floral herb notes. On the palate apricot, peach and pineapple with lemon zest, classic New Zealand SB. Lively acidity and spice complement this wine, well balanced ending on medium finish. — 11 days ago
It’s hard to find fully shed classic Viura (white Rioja) anymore but old-school Lopez de Heredia clings to tradition. This wine, nearly 10 years old on release, is fascinating - aged to the point of considerable oxidation yet it retains its fruit ands acidity. Bruised apple, ripe pear, golden raisin, orange peel, flint, wet stones, and hay happily coexist with hazelnut, dried orange peel, coconut, baking spices ands more. The medium acidity is a firm foundation to a richly textured wine, Long finish too! — 18 days ago
Nathan Renfro
Drinking very well now. Really enjoyed it. — 10 days ago