Chappellet Merlot 2017
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This lovely wine draws you in with its complex aromas of dark berry, briaryspice, anise, clove, cedar chest and black tea. On the palate, silky tannins adddepth and length to luxurious flavors of black plum, cherry, dark chocolateand roasted coffee, all of which glide to a warm, rich finish.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Chappellet Merlot delivers a spot-on example of this grape variety. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bright and lively with aromas and flavors of black fruit and dust. Some red fruit keeps it even more vivid. Pair it with grilled lamb kabobs. (Tasted: May 23, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Enthusiast
With a brawny build of sweet tannin and powerful red fruit, this is a mountain-grown red, made by the producer since the 1970s. With small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, it showcases the variety’s herbaceous qualities while featuring a lasting richness and spicy oak.
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2019-
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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.
As Napa Valley’s third most planted grape, Napa Valley Merlot shows time and time again its potential to produce exceptional results. Napa’s vaunted combination of climate, soil and the human factor of winemaking expertise lead to big, ripe, cellar-worthy and world-class versions.
Whether made by itself in single varietal bottlings or as an important role in Bordeaux Blends, Merlot continues a prominent role in this famous region. While Cabernet typically takes the lead role, Merlot’s contribution—even at 10% to 20% or so—is significant indeed. Often described as “the flesh on Cabernet’s bones,” Merlot lends a soft, round and plush character that beautifully complements Cabernet’s linear, full-throttle structure. Its flavors of plums plus subtle herbs and mint also dovetail nicely with Cabernet’s blackberry and cassis.