Chappellet Cab Franc/Making Monday's Blues Disappear

This week we will travel into Napa Valley.This is a fabled wine region,and home to many world class wineries.Chappellet has been making wine for decades,and I have been blessed to know Cyril Chappellet.Recently I sat down with Phillip Titus,and we opened the current vintage of Chappellet Cab Franc.The Chappellet family’s romance with Pritchard Hill started more than four decades ago when Donn and Molly Chappellet first glimpsed its magnificent vista of forests and wildflower-filled meadows. Inspired by the notion that Bacchus loves the hills, the Chappellets followed the advice of renowned winemaker André Tchelistcheff and settled on Pritchard Hill’s rocky slopes, becoming the first winery to plant vineyards exclusively on high-elevation hillsides. From these Pritchard Hill vineyards, the Chappellets have been crafting extraordinary, age-worthy wines since 1967. Pritchard Hill’s rugged terroir has become legendary for producing wines with great intensity and depth—qualities that define the world's finest Cabernet Sauvignons. As a result, Chappellet wines have consistently received the highest praise from critics, and are sought after by the world's premier collectors. Today, a second generation of the family has joined their parents in embracing the romance of Pritchard Hill. They are passionate about preserving the land and continuing what Donn and Molly began—making extraordinary wines.Now let's check out the tasting notes before we introduce you to Phillip Titus and open this special wine. Harvested October 24–November 1, 2011 14.5% Alcohol TA .52g/100ml pH 3.79 Cabernet Franc 76% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Petit Verdot 10% Malbec 4% 2011 Cabernet Franc WINEMAKER PHILLIP CORALLO-TITUS The 2011 vintage has yielded a classic expression of mountain-grown Cabernet Franc that is both elegant and intense. Varietal aromas of cherry, blackberry and violets fill the glass alongside hints of green olive, bay leaf, anise, cedar and mocha—all of which add a Bordeaux-like complexity to the nose. On the palate, the tannins are plush and supple, underscoring the wine’s rich body and velvety mouthfeel. Focused red and black fruit favors, as well as notes of sweet oak, roast coffee beans and sage carry through to a lingering and viscous finish that highlights the sophistication of Cab Franc grown on Pritchard's Hill. I can't wait any longer...Let's join Phillip Titus and enjoy a glass of this beautiful wine.Cheers! Click here as we saved you a seat.