Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon "Pritchard Hill" 2018
(Napa Valley, California) - [WA 98] [JD 98] [VM 96+] [JS 96] [DM 95]

The Ultimate Expression of Terroir:
The most sought-after wine in our portfolio, this limited-production Cabernet Sauvignon represents the pinnacle of Chappellet winemaking and embodies the elegant power and complexity of Pritchard Hill winegrowing. Like the great Bordeaux wines that first inspired Donn Chappellet, this wine is crafted by blending Cabernet Sauvignon with other classic Bordeaux varietals. The wine was aged for 22 months in 100%new French oak. Grown on our rocky, mountainside vineyard, our Cabernets have consistently displayed an ability to age for several decades.

Tasting Notes:
Embodying the essence of great mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, and the majestic terroir or Pritchard Hill, this wine displays epic depth and complexity. Pure, intense aromas of blackberry, cassis, perfumed violets, graphite and macerated berry skins leap from the glass, followed by layers of anise, vanilla, clove and dark chocolate. The luxurious berry and spice notes continue on the palate, where polished, mouth-filling tannins and a powerful structure add depth and gravitas to the deep, rich flavors, carrying the wine to a resonating dark berry and mocha finish.

Technical Information

98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. It was aged in 100% new French oak for 22 months. The alcohol weighed in at 14.5%. Deep garnet-purple in color, it charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm cassis, wild blueberries and black raspberries, plus hints of chocolate box, menthol, tapenade, smoked meats and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is bursting with vibrant black fruits, framed by fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins and lovely freshness, finishing long and mineral laced." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown (11/5/2020)

98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Always one of top wines in a vintage, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is another gorgeous wine with a more plush, supple texture that hides solid underlying structure and tannins. Beautiful notes of blueberries, new leather, camphor, violets, and smoked tobacco all flow to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured beauty that's very much in the style of the vintage. Possessing remarkable purity, flawless balance, and building tannins, give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 25+ years." (1/27/2021)

96+ Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is bright, punchy and structured. Blackberry jam, grilled herbs, lavender, menthol and crushed rocks all come alive in the glass. This searingly tannic, mountain Cabernet needs a good deal of time to open, but when it does, it dazzles. Bright floral notes, blood orange and slightly redder tonalities of fruit develop over time. The Pritchard Hill is a wine for readers who can be patient." - Antonio Galloni (1/2021)

96 Points - James Suckling:
"Blue fruit with boysenberry and floral aromas. Cassis, too. It’s full-bodied, yet very tight and toned on the palate with fine tannins that are formed and polished. A classic wine. Give this three or four years to soften. Best after 2024." (10/17/2020)

95 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"Sourced from the top 15-20% of Chappellet’s holdings on Pritchard Hill. Floral aromas of fresh violets, damp herbs and black fruits. Powerful and muscular on the palate, but a lean, toned muscle. Often, the flagship wine of a Napa estate pulls out all the stops with ripeness, but this bottling is impressively restrained and elegant." - Matthew Luczy (10/12/2020)