Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Phil Titus was already a beast in Napa Valley and pretty much everybody knew it. Between his work at his family’s Titus Vineyards and as top man at Chappellet on Pritchard Hill, his winemaking skills were well-known. But then the 100-point score for his 2016 Chappellet score came, and with it international acclaim that he hadn’t experienced before.

Perhaps, if nothing else, the 100-point score was a confirmation of what most already knew about the winemaking and the vineyard site. Phil Titus and Ry Richards easily make for one of the best teams in Napa, and the Cabernet they get to work with off Pritchard Hill is simply extraordinary. I mean, there’s a reason it costs $1 million an acre there. It’s home to Colgin, Bryant Family, Continuum, David Arthur, and Ovid in addition to Chappellet.

The rocky volcanic soils of Pritchard Hill, coupled with meticulous vineyard management, result in low-yield, high-quality grapes that express the true essence of their terroir. By embracing organic and biodynamic principles, Chappellet nurtures a healthy ecosystem where vines thrive naturally, yielding fruit of unparalleled purity and intensity.

In a vintage as perfect as 2021 was in Napa, it should come as no shock that the Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon stands out as a true gem. It comes decorated to the tune of 94+ pts from Jeb Dunnuck, who called it “concentrated and powerful offering ample mid-palate depth, a layered, textured, balanced mouthfeel, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish.” It also received a 95 from Wine Enthusiast who deemed it “huge in pure fruit depth yet well polished in texture.” Personally, I tend to side more with the 96 that it received from Europe’s top wine critic, Decanter.