Chappellet Vineyard Red Bordeaux Blend Napa Valley Mountain Cuvée 2008

A dark, deeply colored wine that is black at the core with a brilliant purple rim. The nose offers a bouquet of violets, lavender, and sage, as well as secondary aromas of coffee, crushed rocks, and black pepper. Chewy on the palate--rich and compl... John Sweeney. A Proprietary Blend wine from California in USA. 2008 Chappellet Mountain Cuvee 750ml

Winemaker's Notes:"This is the wine to choose when you're looking for vivid, mouth-filling fruit flavors. Our Mountain Cuvee is a winemaker's blend that beautifully expresses the distinctive qualities of the traditional Bordeaux varietals, and is crafted for early consumption. Each component making up the cuvee contributes nuances that mingle with and complement each other. The result is a complex array of aromas and flavors that deliver pure pleasure in a glass.Our 2008 Mountain Cuvee is vibrant and harmonious, displaying the complexity of a classic Bordeaux blend, with all the appealing richness of great California winegrowing. The nose offers an immediate rush of sun-ripened fruit and spice that spills from the glass, highlighting notes of dark cherry, plum, cinnamon, mocha and toasted oak. On the palate, abundant black cherry and cola flavors are supported by soft, rich tannins and a supple texture that leads to a long, satisfying finish."Cabernet Sauvignon 52%; Merlot 43%; Petit Verdot 3%; Malbec 1%; Cabernet Franc 1%

Winemaker's Notes:This is the wine to choose when you're looking for vivid, mouth-filling fruit flavors. Our Mountain Cuvee is a winemaker's blend that beautifully expresses the distinctive qualitie

A stylish Bordeaux blend of Cabernet, Merlot and a dash of Cabernet Franc. Silky, pure mountain fruit with blackberry, red licorice and cedar weighing in full-bodied on the palate. Spicy tar and chewy tannins grip the finish, but the lingering impression is of mouthwatering fruit. Chappellet, a small winery by California terms, produces only 28,000 cases yearly, focusing mainly on Cabernet, Merlot and Chardonnay.

Dark garnet in hue, this wine lifts itself out of the glass with aromas of ripe black cherries and dried herbs. On the tongue it tastes mostly of cherry, with a light hint of smokiness and blueberries that mixes with the mellow tannins for a very drinkable and easy mouthfeel. The long finish has hints of vanilla and other floral elements. This is an excellent food wine, and one that's worth breaking out at most any dinner, especially if you prefer to drink reds no matter what you're eating. The softer tannins mean that it will not clash with more delicate foods, including even fish. If I had to pick an ideal dish to serve it with, I might try individual meat loaves with bacon crisps.

You can call this Chappellet's everyday claret, but that's an insult to a wine of this quality. It shows classic Napa structure, with firm tannins and rich acidity, and a deep core of black cherry, black currant and oak flavors. It's delicious now, and should develop for a couple of years.

Firm and intense, with a mix of mineral, pebble, dried currant, sage and spice. Full-bodied and complex, ending with fine structure and chewy tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2014.