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Uutiset
Jeb Dunnuck / Also inky colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill comes from the estate vineyard on Pritchard Hill and spent 22 months in new French oak. It has a similar level of purity, as well as incredible minerality, to go with notes of crème de cassis, scorched earth, crushed rock, and graphite. Reminiscent of liking a rock with its insane level of minerality, this full-bodied beauty is tight and closed on the palate, yet is just loaded with potential. It’s only for those with cold cellars and needs forgotten for 7-8 years, but will keep for 4-5 decades. Bravo!
RP97
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot and 8% Malbec, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill has gone a little reticent at this stage, offering quiet notions of blackberry pie and blueberry tart with sparks of dried herbs, earth and savory/meaty suggestions. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a built-like-a-brick-house structure framing the massive fruit, it finishes long with exotic spices coming through.
JS96
James Suckling
Blackcurrants and black olives with hints of currants and basil. Hints of rosemary and lavender. This is linear and bright with a racy line of tannins running down the center. Structured and bright. A real beauty. Needs three or four years to soften. Classic cabernet. 96p
Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
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.
This is a classic expression of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon that combines exceptional structure and richness with elegant purity and poise. The aromas are decadent and concentrated, displaying layers of crème de cassis, blackberry and boysenberry, as well as notes of chocolate, espresso, cigar box and sweet oak. The ripe dark berry elements are echoed on the voluptuous palate, where they are underscored by mouth-coating tannins and hints of vanilla, toasted oak, clove, nutmeg and anise, all of which carry through to a lingering finish that is both smooth and spicy.
Wine Information
While the 2015 growing season delivered grapes of exceptional quality, it was a vintage that was light on quantity. With another warm, dry spring, the growing season got off to a fast start. Cold weather during flowering resulted in a significant amount of shatter, resulting in light clusters. Knowing that yields would be down, the team tailored their farming to ensure that they brought out the very best from the small crop. This included methods designed to create homogenous ripening, as well as techniques that limited canopy growth, while providing ideal dappled sunlight on the ripening fruit. A lovely temperate summer allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, while an unhurried harvest ensured that everything was picked at the perfect stage of development, with pristine grapes showing beautiful color, density and depth.
This is a classic expression of mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon that combines exceptional structure and concentration with graceful purity and poise. The aromas reveal deep layers of blackberry, cassis and anise along with notes of cedar and violet. The palate is velvety and rich, with underlying tone and structure. Dark fruit flavours are accompanied by hints of roasted coffee, dark chocolate and oak spice that carry through to a long, satisfying finish.