Pritchard Hill, Napa Valley,

The 2019 Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, with 5% Petit Verdot in the blend, is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of blackcurrant pastilles, candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, and clove oil come barreling out of the glass, leading to hints of fragrant soil and cedar chest. The big, rich, full-bodied palate delivers impactful, mouth-coating black fruit with a velvety texture and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill is a potent, massively tannic wine. Black fruit, graphite, licorice, spice, menthol, chocolate and dried herbs abound. A huge, tannic beast, the 2019 is all brawn today and not terribly finessed. This is not a particularly distinguished vintage for Chappellet's flagship.