Chappellet Signature Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Chappelet Cabernet is tasty, rich and well structured, like a good Bordeaux

September 2009

Cabernet Sauvignon is the grape most identified with Napa Valley, and Chappellet has always made beautiful examples. I recall tasting many of the wines from the '70s and '80s in magnum, and most were holding up very well. The current vintage follows the 2004 that received a 93-point rating from The Wine Spectator. Under the direction of winemaker Phillip Carallo-Titus, the 2005 is more of that same high quality Cabernet. The nose shows classic Napa Cabernet, black currant, blackberry and cherry aromas with smooth fruit continuing to the palate where espresso and chocolate can be read more...found woven throughout the supple tannins. The wine is drinking beautifully now, but experience has shown Chappellet makes wines that age gracefully for decades.    (hide)

An attractive array of blackberry, smoke, dark chocolate, and bay leaf aromas leads to a lustrous, layered wine. Rich on the palate with a velvet texture, the spicy, ripe, black fruits are beautifully integrated
with the oak, tannins, and acidity.

November 2009

We'd normally give a good Chappellet cab a higher rating, but we cracked open a bottle of the 2005 this evening (May '08) and it was a little below expectations. It definitely opened up and got better after it breathed a little. But still not as nice as a bottle of Bordeaux that we opened right after this one for half the price.

May 2008

Connoisseurs' Guide rating: 90

The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon has been Chappellet's flagship wine for more than three decades. It is a benchmark for the long-lived hillside wines of the Napa Valley; full of structure and aging potential, yet seductively forward in its concentrated varietal character. Collectors covet vintages from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and the acclaimed 2000s uphold this enduring tradition. Opening with expressive notes of blackberry, cherry and cassis, this wine is full-bodied and rich. Hints of chocolate and espresso layer with spicy oak for added complexity. Smooth tannins infused read more...with ripe sweet fruit create a lush, supple texture. Rich waves of berry, spice and herbs create a lasting impression of finesse and structure in this Cabernet.    (hide)