2021 Chappellet 'Grower Collection Calesa' Chardonnay Carneros
Chappellet, a family-owned Napa Valley gem, champions sustainable farming and organic practices. The 2021 Chardonnay from Calesa Vineyard, nestled in the fog and wind of the Petaluma Gap, entices with notes of Mandarin orange, citrus blossom, lychee, and guava, enhanced by brioche, nutmeg, and vanilla bean. Crisp and vibrant, with creamy layers of lemon custard and tropical fruit, the finish is long and supple. Don't miss the chance to savor this exquisite wine—experience Chappellet today.
If you asked us for our list of Napa Valley wineries currently making the highest quality, most complete, most consistent, most interesting, most ageworthy wines for the money, Chappellet Winery would be at the top. Consider all the metrics: track record, intrinsic quality, taste of the soil, availability, quality-price rapport, freshness, and visceral excitement. Is this the finest winery, top-to-bottom, in the Napa Valley? Why are the wines so good? First, take a great terroir: volcanic terraces high on Pritchard Hill that were first planted in 1882. It’s no accident that Colgin, Continuum, and Bryant Family set up shop in the neighborhood. Then we have 47 years of accumulated knowledge from some of the best winemaking talent the valley has ever seen: Philip Togni, Joe Cafaro, Tony Soter, Cathy Corison and finally Philip Corallo-Titus, who has been at the winemaking helm since 1990. And finally there’s the huge Chappellet family, dedicated as a team to farm great grapes and make superb wines since 1968.
Wine Advocate
The 2021 Chardonnay Calesa Vineyard, matured in 35% new French oak, features intense lemon jelly and nectarine aromas on the nose with wafts of chalk and beeswax. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully satiny and concentrated, its ripe fruit complemented by energetic acidity and well-integrated oak spices, and it boasts a lengthy, mouth-coating finish with soaring citrus flavors. 1,210 cases were made.
James Suckling
Dried apple, salted caramel, olive oil and lightly toasted hazelnut. Medium body with pretty fruit and tension with crisp acidity. Jasmine and acacia. Drink or hold.