2024 Chappellet "Mountain Cuvée" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

Chappellet changed Napa Valley in 1967. Donn and Molly Chappellet planted the first high-elevation vineyard in California on Pritchard Hill — steep, well-drained volcanic soils where most growers thought nothing would ripen. Five decades later, the estate is still family-owned, organically farmed, and turning out mountain-grown Cabernet that punches well above its price.

The Mountain Cuvee is the estate's Bordeaux blend built for near-term pleasure: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Syrah, sourced from Pritchard Hill Estate and a handful of Napa's best mountain sites — Stagecoach, Broken Rock, Sugarload, Murray Ranch. Each varietal contributes something the others need: structure from Cabernet, plushness from Merlot, spice from Syrah. The result is a wine that delivers mountain concentration without requiring a decade in the cellar.

The 2024 vintage benefited from early-season rains that saturated the soils, followed by a cool spring and summer that extended hangtime. Winemaker Phillip Corallo-Titus — thirty-four years at Chappellet — kept clusters loose through aggressive leafing and pruning, ensuring airflow and light penetration during the cool vintage. Harvest was compact, grapes picked at the ideal moment. The wine shows the payoff: dark cherry, blackberry, plum, clove, cardamom, cedar, black pepper, fresh herbs. Lush ripe berry layers, fine-grained tannins, a lingering dark chocolate and anise finish.

This is Napa mountain fruit at $48 — the kind of depth and balance that usually asks double. 92 Jeb Dunnuck, 91 Vinous. Pour it tonight with steak or grilled lamb, or let it ride for a few years. It'll be hitting its stride either way.