2008 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

There are few wines in the world that are as coveted as Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. If you split the name and offered a Chappellet bottling or vineyard-designated Pritchard Hill wine, each alone would create buzz. Put the two together, and you get today's remarkable bottle.

Ten years ago, I moved to Napa and had the opportunity to visit Chappellet. I was soon in awe of the very same property that Donn and Molly Chappellet laid eyes on over 40 years ago. It's obvious why they never left. In 1967, the couple purchased the hillside land on Pritchard Hill, following the advice of legendary winemaker André Tchelistcheff. Rising from 800 to 1,800 feet above sea level, the rocky eastern slopes of Pritchard Hill were the first exclusively high-elevation hillside vineyards planted in Napa Valley.

Phillip Corallo-Titus has been Chappellet's winemaker for over 20 years. His in-depth knowledge of each block contributes to each wine's brilliance, as does the label's dedication to sustainability and organic growing methods. Currently, 90 percent of the estate vineyards are organically farmed; most of these have completed the three-year certification process, and the remaining acreage is not far behind.

The 2008 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet was blended with 16 percent Petit Verdot and 8 percent Malbec before aging for 20 months in 100 percent new French oak and another eight months in the bottle before release.

Tasting Note
Over the past decade, my appreciation for hillside fruit has risen to great heights, no pun intended. The 2008 Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon's elegance and balance should be considered a benchmark achievement for high-elevation wines. Releasing the bouquet in the glass immediately reveals dark cherry cola, savory clove and brown sugar notes that add oomph to the subtle yet substantial chocolate, blackberry liqueur and cedar flavors on the palate. The Chappellet Pritchard Hill would pair well with any dream-dinner requests: surf and turf, roasted duck à l'orange and flourless chocolate torte.

—Stephanie DeMasi

Stephanie DeMasi has been General Manager and Managing Partner of Juslyn Vineyards on Spring Mountain for the last eight years. A New York City native, Stephanie graduated from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and moved to Napa in 2002 to experience the harvest. She has earned the Advanced Certificate of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and a Wine Spectator Restaurant Wine List Award in 2006 for her work at fresh, a restaurant in New York City. Follow Stephanie on Twitter: @StephanieDeMasi