Tasting Notes
Antonio Galloni 96
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is bursting with the essence of blackberry jam, graphite, menthol, licorice, plum and espresso. Readers should expect a Cabernet that marries opulent fruit and textural density with mountain structure.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2038
Wine Advocate 98+
Chappellet’s 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill ended up being bottled as a 5,000-case blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This stunning wine offers up a seamless amalgam of cherries, blueberries and cassis, joined by hints of cedar and vanilla and subtle nuances of dried herbs. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s concentrated and rich, with ripe tannins lingering on the long, dusty finish. In 20 years, will this rating seem conservative?
Anticipated maturity: 2030-2050
Decanter 99
Now this is one beautiful, full-bodied, full-framed Napa Cabernet from an iconic producer. The wine opens with blue fruit and beautifully fine, expressive French oak notes – perfectly toasted and exuding espresso, dark chocolate, and molasses – before blackberry fruit builds with intensity and segues seamlessly into a ripe, pure-fruited palate. This powerful wine overflows with ripe fruit and lavish Indian and Asian spices, and candied violets, while powerful tannin is perfectly integrated – forming a seamless tapestry of dark berry fruit-and-brown-spice through the finish. Tasted over three days, it just gets better and better. One note of warning: The bottle itself is a little heavy, so instead of recycling it, consider adding it to your free weight collection.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2050
The Wine Palate 100
The 2023 Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, with 5% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. After a swirl or two, it comes tearing out with bold notes of juicy blackberries and warm cassis, followed by hints of coffee beans, dark chocolate, licorice, and dried Provence herbs. The full-bodied palate is tightly wound with black fruit and spicy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and a lively line, finishing on a lingering espresso note.
Anticipated maturity: 2028-2055
Jeb Dunnuck 100
The flagship release here, the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill sports a saturated purple hue and absolutely heavenly aromatics of creme de cassis, liquid violets, graphite, crushed stone, and a Pauillac-like character that builds with time in the glass. Based on 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, it’s full-bodied, has a deep, concentrated mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish. This is magical stuff that offers pleasure even today given its purity, balance, and finesse, but I’d be shocked if it didn’t keep for 50 years or more.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2075
James Suckling 98
Pure, focused, linear, elegant, muscular but sleek. Generous in blueberries, dried cherries, cocoa, graphite and cedar nuances. All in balance, offering a firm but velvety structure around deep, gorgeous spices. Delicious already but great for aging. Best from 2034. Drink now.
Jane Anson 100
The flagship wine of Chappellet, this is sleek, deep, powerful, extremely pure and vivid Cabernet hidden power, and again this cut tannic frame that shelters the fruit, a beautiful wine that has this enveloping violet fragrance, and showcases the brilliance of the 2023 vintage. 41ha, Philipe Titus winemaker, David Frankie director.
Anticipated maturity: 2028-2044
